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Ben Sira 50
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Ben Sira 50
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 50
Simeon, Son of Jochanan
1 Greatest of his family, the glory of his people,
was Simeon the priest, son of Jochanan,[a]
In whose time the house of God was renovated,
in whose days the temple was reinforced.
2 In his time also the retaining wall was built
with powerful turrets for the temple precincts.
3 In his time the reservoir was dug,
a pool as vast as the sea.
4 He protected the people against brigands
and strengthened the city against the enemy.
5 How splendid he was as he looked out from the tent,
as he came from behind the veil!
6 Like a star shining among the clouds,
like the full moon at the festal season;
7 Like sun shining upon the temple of the King,
like a rainbow appearing in the cloudy sky;
8 Like blossoms on the branches in springtime,
like a lily by running waters;
Like a green shoot on Lebanon in summer,
9 like the fire of incense at sacrifice;
Like a vessel of hammered gold,
studded with all kinds of precious stones;
10 Like a luxuriant olive tree heavy with fruit,
a plant with branches abounding in oil;
11 Wearing his glorious robes,
and vested in sublime magnificence,(A)
As he ascended the glorious altar
and lent majesty to the court of the sanctuary.
12 When he received the portions from the priests
while he stood before the sacrificial wood,
His sons stood round him like a garland,
like young cedars on Lebanon;
And like poplars by the brook they surrounded him,
13 all the sons of Aaron in their glory,
With the offerings to the Lord in their hands,
in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel.
14 Once he had completed the service at the altar
and arranged the sacrificial hearth for the Most High,
15 And had stretched forth his hand for the cup,
to offer blood of the grape,
And poured it out at the foot of the altar,
a sweet-smelling odor to God the Most High,(B)
16 Then the sons of Aaron would sound a blast,
the priests, on their trumpets of beaten metal;
A blast to resound mightily
as a reminder before the Most High.(C)
17 All the people with one accord
would fall with face to the ground
In adoration before the Most High,
before the Holy One of Israel.
18 Then hymns would re-echo,
and over the throng sweet strains of praise resound.
19 All the people of the land would shout for joy,
praying to the Merciful One,
As the high priest completed the service at the altar
by presenting to God the fitting sacrifice.
20 Then coming down he would raise his hands
over all the congregation of Israel;
The blessing of the Lord would be upon his lips,
the name of the Lord would be his glory.(D)
21 The people would again fall down
to receive the blessing of the Most High.
22 And now, bless the God of all,[b]
who has done wonders on earth;
Who fosters growth from the womb,
fashioning it according to his will!
23 May he grant you a wise heart
and abide with you in peace;
24 May his goodness toward Simeon last forever;
may he fulfill for him the covenant with Phinehas
So that it may not be abrogated for him
or his descendants while the heavens last.
Epilogue
25 My whole being loathes two nations,
the third is not even a people:[c]
26 The inhabitants of Seir[d] and Philistia,
and the foolish people who dwell in Shechem.(E)
27 Wise instruction, appropriate proverbs,[e]
I have written in this book—
I, Yeshua Ben Eleazar Ben Sira—
as they poured forth from my heart’s understanding.
28 Happy those who meditate upon these things;
wise those who take them to heart!
29 If they put them into practice, they can cope with anything,
for the fear of the Lord is their lamp.
Footnotes
- 50:1–21 Son of Jochanan: Simeon II, in whose time as high priest (219–196 B.C.) great works were accomplished for the benefit of public worship and welfare (vv. 1–4). Ben Sira, a contemporary, describes detailed liturgical action, perhaps pertaining to the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur, cf. Lv 16).
- 50:22–24 Ben Sira urges the reader to praise and bless God for his wondrous works and then invokes a blessing on all that they may enjoy peace and gladness of heart and the abiding goodness of the Most High.
- 50:25 Not even a people: the Samaritans.
- 50:26 Seir: Mount Seir in the territory of the Edomites. Shechem: a city in Samaria.
- 50:27 This colophon may have been the original ending of the book. It is unusual for a biblical writer to append his name.
Sirach 50
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Sirach 50
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Simon Son of Onias
50 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 In his days a cistern for water was quarried out,[c]
a reservoir like the sea in circumference.
4 He considered how to save his people from ruin,
and fortified the city to withstand a siege.
5 How glorious he was when the people gathered round him
as he came out of the inner sanctuary![d]
6 Like the morning star among the clouds,
like the moon when it is full;
7 like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High,
and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds;
8 like roses in the days of the first fruits,
like lilies by a spring of water,
like a green shoot on Leb′anon[e] on a summer day;
9 like fire and incense in the censer,
like a vessel of hammered gold
adorned with all kinds of precious stones;
10 like an olive tree putting forth its fruit,
and like a cypress towering in the clouds.
11 When he put on his glorious robe
and clothed himself with superb perfection
and went up to the holy altar,
he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.
12 And when he received the portions from the hands of the priests,
as he stood by the hearth of the altar
with a garland of brethren around him,
he was like a young cedar on Leb′anon;
and they surrounded him like the trunks of palm trees,
13 all the sons of Aaron in their splendor
with the Lord’s offering in their hands,
before the whole congregation of Israel.
14 Finishing the service at the altars,
and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty,
15 he reached out his hand to the cup
and poured a libation 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.
16 Then the sons of Aaron shouted,
they sounded the trumpets of hammered work,
they made a great noise to be heard
for remembrance before the Most High.
17 Then all the people together made haste
and fell to the ground upon their faces
to worship their Lord,
the Almighty, God Most High.
18 And the singers praised him with their voices
in sweet and full-toned melody.[f]
19 And the people besought the Lord Most High
in prayer before him who is merciful,
till the order of worship of the Lord was ended;
so they completed his service.
20 Then Simon[g] came down, and lifted up his hands
over the whole congregation of the sons of Israel,
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.
A Benediction
22 And now bless the God of all,
who in every way does great things;
who exalts our days from birth,
and deals with us according to his mercy.
23 May he give us[h] gladness of heart,
and grant that peace may be in our days in Israel,
as in the days of old.
24 May he entrust to us his mercy!
And let him deliver us in our[i] days!
Epilogue
25 With two nations my soul is vexed,
and the third is no nation:
26 Those who live on Mount Se′ir,[j] and the Philistines,
and the foolish people that dwell in Shechem.
27 Instruction in understanding and knowledge
I have written in this book,
Jesus the son of Sirach, son of Elea′zar,[k] of Jerusalem,
who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
28 Blessed is he who concerns himself with these things,
and he who lays them to heart will become wise.
29 For if he does them, he will be strong for all things,
for the light of the Lord is his path.
Footnotes
- Sirach 50:1 Heb Syr: Greek lacks this line. Compare 49.15
- Sirach 50:2 The meaning of this phrase is obscure
- Sirach 50:3 Cn Compare Heb: Gk was diminished
- Sirach 50:5 Gk the house of the veil
- Sirach 50:8 Or a sprig of frankincense
- Sirach 50:18 Other authorities read in sweet melody throughout the house
- Sirach 50:20 Gk he
- Sirach 50:23 Other authorities read you
- Sirach 50:24 Other authorities read his
- Sirach 50:26 Heb Vg: Gk on the mountain of Samaria
- Sirach 50:27 The text of this line is uncertain
Sirach 50
Good News Translation
Sirach 50
Good News Translation
Simon Son of Onias
50 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 was in office. 4 He made plans to protect his people from attack and fortified the city so that it could withstand a siege.
5 How glorious he was when he came out of the Most Holy Place![d] 6 He was like the morning star shining through the clouds, like the full moon, 7 like the sun shining on the Temple of the Most High, like the rainbow gleaming in glory against the clouds, 8 like roses in springtime, like lilies beside a stream, like the cedars of Lebanon in summer, 9 like burning incense, like a cup made of hammered gold and decorated with all kinds of jewels, 10 like an olive tree loaded with fruit, like a cypress tree towering into the clouds.
11 When Simon put on his magnificent robe and went up to the holy altar dressed in perfect splendor, he made the Temple courtyard a majestic sight. 12 When the priests handed him the portions of the sacrifice as he stood beside the altar with his assistants circling him like a wreath, he was like a young cedar of Lebanon surrounded by palm trees. 13 Those were the descendants of Aaron in their splendid garments, standing before the whole assembly of Israel, holding in their hands the offering made to the Lord. 14 When he had finished the service at the altar and had arranged the sacrifice to the Most High, the Almighty, 15 he reached for a cup and poured out sweet-smelling wine at the foot of the altar as an offering to the Most High, the universal King. 16 Then the priests shouted and blew their trumpets of hammered silver. They made a loud noise that the Most High would hear. 17 All the people immediately bowed down with their faces to the ground to worship their Lord, the Almighty, the Most High. 18 Then the choir began to sing his praises, and the beautiful music rang out. 19 The people kept praying to the merciful Lord Most High until the service of worship had come to a close. 20 (A)Then Simon came down from the altar, raised his hands over the whole assembly of Israel, and reverently pronounced the blessing from the Lord, 21 while the people bowed a second time in worship to receive that blessing from the Most High.
A Benediction
22 Now then, give praise to the God of the universe, who has done great things everywhere, who brings us up[e] from the time we are born, and deals with us mercifully. 23 May he give us happiness and allow us to have peace in Israel forever. 24 May he continue his mercy to us and rescue us in our time of need.
Three Hated Nations
25 There are two nations that I detest, and a third that does not even deserve to be called a nation. 26 These are the Edomites,[f] the inhabitants of the Philistine cities, and the stupid Samaritans.
The Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach
27 I, Jesus son of Sirach Eleazar[g] of Jerusalem, put all my wisdom into writing this book to provide instruction and knowledge for others. 28 May God bless everyone who gives attention to these teachings. Whoever takes them to heart will become wise. 29 Whoever lives by them will be strong enough for any occasion, because he will be walking in the light of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Sirach 50:1 The greatest...people; Hebrew and one ancient translation place the words at this point; Greek places them at 49.15.
- Sirach 50:2 Verse 2 in Greek is unclear.
- Sirach 50:3 Hebrew dug; Greek reduced.
- Sirach 50:5 Hebrew Most Holy Place; Greek Most Holy Place among the people.
- Sirach 50:22 brings us up; or honors us.
- Sirach 50:26 Hebrew Edomites; Greek Samaritans.
- Sirach 50:27 Sirach Eleazar; or Sirach son of Eleazar.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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Good News Translation (GNT) 
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