Sirach 50 - Contemporary English Version Interconfessional Edition

Simon the Priest

¹ High Priest Simon the son of Onias repaired and fortified the temple,

² and he laid the foundations for the high double walls that went around it.

³ Simon also dug a cistern as big as the large bronze bowl called “the Sea.”

⁴ He fortified Jerusalem and drew up plans in case it was ever attacked or surrounded.

⁵ When he came out from the Most Holy Place and walked among the people, he looked glorious,

⁶ like the morning star between the clouds or a full moon during a festival,

⁷ or like sunshine on the temple of God Most High, or a brilliant rainbow set against beautiful clouds.

⁸ Seeing him was as pleasant as the first roses of spring or lilies beside a stream, or green grass on a hot day in the Lebanon mountains.

⁹ He was majestic, like the smoke from burning incense, or a golden bowl set with jewels of every kind,

¹⁰ or like an olive tree heavy with olives, or a cypress tree reaching toward the clouds.

¹¹ The whole temple courtyard reflected his glory when he wore his special robes and went up to the sacred altar.

¹² Then he stood beside the altar, and other priests gave him the sacrifices to be burned. These priests stood around him like palm trees near a cedar in the Lebanon mountains.

¹³ They wore beautiful robes and held the sacrifices in their hands. All Israel watched

¹⁴ while Simon placed each offering on the altar fires.

¹⁵ Then he was handed a cup of blood-red wine, which he poured out at the foot of the altar as a pleasant-smelling offering to God Most High, the King of all creation.

¹⁶ After this, the priests shouted and blew silver trumpets, making a loud noise as a prayer to the Most High God.

¹⁷ Immediately, everyone bowed with their face to the ground to worship the all-powerful Lord God Most High.

¹⁸ The temple choir began singing, and sweet songs of praise echoed through the courtyard.

¹⁹ Meanwhile, the people prayed to their God, the merciful Lord Most High, until the ceremonies of worship were finished.

²⁰ Then Simon came down from the altar and raised his hands to praise the Lord and to bless the people in his name.

²¹ They bowed down again to receive Simon's blessing and to worship God Most High.

Praise God

²² Praise the God of all creation, because he works miracles everywhere on earth. He watches over us as we grow, and shows mercy to us.

²³ Now we pray for happiness and peace in Israel, as it used to be.

²⁴ May he be merciful and rescue us before we die. *

Nations Hated by Sirach

²⁵ Two nations I hate are Edom and Philistia,

²⁶ and I also hate the people of Shechem— those fools are unworthy to even be called a nation.

The Wisdom in This Book

²⁷ My name is Jesus son of Eleazar son of Sirach, and I wrote this book to help you learn and understand the wisdom that overflows from my heart.

²⁸ If you read and pay attention to the wisdom in this book, you will be happy and wise.

²⁹ The Lord's wisdom gives light to the pathway of life. Follow wisdom, and you will never fail.