Sirach 50 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Simon Son of Onias

50 The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people[a]
was the high priest, Simon son of Onias,
who in his life repaired the house
and in his time fortified the temple.
2 He laid the foundations for the high double walls,
the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.
3 In his days a water cistern was dug,[b]
a reservoir like the sea in circumference.
4 He considered how to save his people from ruin
and fortified the city against siege.
5 How glorious he was as he gazed from the tent,[c]
as he came out of the house of the curtain,(A)
6 like the morning star among the clouds,
like the full moon at the festal season,[d](B)
7 like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High,
like the rainbow gleaming in splendid clouds,(C)
8 like roses in the days of the spring harvest,
like lilies by springs of water,
like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day,(D)
9 like fire and incense in the censer,
like a vessel of hammered gold
studded with all kinds of precious stones,(E)
10 like an olive tree laden with fruit,
and like a cypress towering in the clouds.(F)
11 When he put on his glorious robe
and clothed himself in perfect splendor,
when he went up to the holy altar,
he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.(G)

12 When he received the portions from the hands of the priests,
as he stood by the hearth of the altar
with a garland of brothers around him,
he was like a young cedar on Lebanon
surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.(H)
13 All the sons of Aaron in their splendor
held the Lord’s offering in their hands
before the whole congregation of Israel.
14 Finishing the service at the altars[e]
and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty,
15 he held out his hand for the cup
and poured a drink offering of the blood of the grape;
he poured it out at the foot of the altar,
a pleasing odor to the Most High, the king of all.(I)
16 Then the sons of Aaron shouted;
they blew their trumpets of hammered metal;
they sounded a mighty fanfare
as a reminder before the Most High.(J)
17 Then all the people together quickly
fell to the ground on their faces
to worship their Lord,
the Almighty, God Most High.

18 Then the singers praised him with their voices
in sweet and full-toned melody.[f](K)
19 And the people of the Lord Most High offered
their prayer before the Merciful One,
until the order of worship of the Lord was ended
and they completed his ritual.
20 Then Simon[g] came down and raised his hands
over the whole congregation of Israelites,
to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips
and to glory in his name,
21 and they bowed down in worship a second time
to receive the blessing from the Most High.(L)

A Benediction

22 And now bless the God of all,
who everywhere works great wonders,
who exalts our days from birth[h]
and deals with us according to his mercy.(M)
23 May he give us[i] gladness of heart,
and may there be peace in our[j] days
in Israel, as in the days of old.
24 May he entrust to us his mercy,
and may he deliver us in our[k] days!

Epilogue

25 Two nations my soul detests,
and the third is not even a nation:
26 those who live in Seir[l] and the Philistines
and the foolish people who live in Shechem.(N)

27 Instruction in understanding and knowledge
I have written in this book,
Jesus son of Eleazar son of Sirach[m] of Jerusalem,
whose mind poured forth wisdom.(O)
28 Happy are those who concern themselves with these things,
and those who lay them to heart will become wise.(P)
29 For if they put them into practice, they will be equal to anything,
for the fear[n] of the Lord is their path.[o](Q)

Footnotes

  1. 50.1Heb Syr: Gk lacks this line.
  2. 50.3Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
  3. 50.5Heb: Gk in his courses in the temple
  4. 50.6Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
  5. 50.14Other ancient authorities read altar
  6. 50.18Other ancient authorities read in sweet melody throughout the house
  7. 50.20Gk he
  8. 50.22Heb who nurtures humankind from the womb
  9. 50.23Other ancient authorities read you
  10. 50.23Other ancient authorities read your
  11. 50.24Other ancient authorities read his
  12. 50.26Heb Compare Lat: Gk on the mountain of Samaria
  13. 50.27Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain
  14. 50.29Heb: Other ancient authorities read light
  15. 50.29Other ancient authorities add And to the pious he gave wisdom. Blessed be the Lord forever. May it be; may it be.

Cross references

  1. 50.5 : Ex 30.6; Lev 16.2; Heb 6.19
  2. 50.6 : Rev 2.28; 22.16
  3. 50.7 : Gen 9.14; 2 Sam 23.4; Sir 43.11, 12
  4. 50.8 : Sir 39.13, 14
  5. 50.9 : Lev 16.12, 13; Sir 24.15
  6. 50.10 : Sir 24.13, 14
  7. 50.11 : Wis 18.24
  8. 50.12 : Ps 92.12
  9. 50.15 : Sir 35.8; 39.26
  10. 50.16 : Num 10.2, 10
  11. 50.18 : Sir 47.9
  12. 50.21 : Num 6.22–26
  13. 50.22 : Ps 22.10; 71.6; 72.18
  14. 50.26 : Ezek 25.15–17; Jn 4.9
  15. 50.27 : Sir 18.29
  16. 50.28 : Rev 1.3
  17. 50.29 : Isa 2.3

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Sirach 50 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

50 Simon, the son of Onias, was a great priest [or Simon, Onias’ son, the great priest], which in his life undersetted the house, and in his days strengthened the temple. 2 Also the highness of the temple was builded of (or by) him, that is, repaired, (yea), the double building, and (the) high walls...
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Sirach 50 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Simon Son of Onias50 The leader of his brethren and the pride of his people[a] was Simon the high priest, son of Onias,who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.2 He laid the foundations for the high double walls,[b] the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.3 ...
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Sirach 50 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Simon Son of Onias50 The leader of his brethren and the pride of his people[a] was Simon the high priest, son of Onias,who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.2 He laid the foundations for the high double walls,[b] the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.3 ...
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Sirach 50 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Simon Son of Onias50 The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people[a] was the high priest, Simon son of Onias,who in his life repaired the house, and in his time fortified the temple.2 He laid the foundations for the high double walls, the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.3 In ...
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Sirach 50 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Simon Son of Onias50 The leader of his brothers and the pride of his people[a] was the high priest, Simon son of Onias,who in his life repaired the house and in his time fortified the temple.2 He laid the foundations for the high double walls, the high retaining walls for the temple enclosure.3 In h...
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Sirach 50 - Good News Translation (GNT)

Simon Son of Onias50 The greatest of his brothers and the pride of his people[a] was the High Priest Simon son of Onias, who repaired the Temple 2 and laid the foundation for the high double wall and the fortifications of the Temple.[b] 3 The reservoir, as big as the bronze tank, was dug[c] while he...
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Sirach 50 - Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

50 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple. 2 By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double building and the high walls of the temple. 3 In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled as the s...
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Sirach 50 - Common English Bible (CEB)

High Priest Simon50 Simon, Onias’ son, wasa great high priest.[a] During his life, he repaired the house and, in his time, strengthened the temple’s defenses.2 He made the foundationfor the courtyard wall, a high fortification for the temple enclosure.3 In his time, he dug out a storage basinfor wat...
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