Sirach 50:1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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.
Footnotes
- 50.1 Heb Syr: Gk lacks this line.
Sirach 50:11-24
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
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.(A)
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.(B)
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[a]
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.(C)
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.(D)
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.[b](E)
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[c] 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.(F)
A Benediction
22 And now bless the God of all,
who everywhere works great wonders,
who exalts our days from birth[d]
and deals with us according to his mercy.(G)
23 May he give us[e] gladness of heart,
and may there be peace in our[f] days
in Israel, as in the days of old.
24 May he entrust to us his mercy,
and may he deliver us in our[g] days!
Footnotes
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.