Sirach 45:1-14

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

45 ¹ and was beloved by God and people,
    Moses, whose memory is blessed.
² He made him equal in glory to the holy ones,
    and made him great, to the terror of his enemies.
³ By his words he performed swift miracles;^[a]
    the Lord^[b] glorified him in the presence of kings.
He gave him commandments for his people,
    and revealed to him his glory.
⁴ For his faithfulness and meekness he consecrated him,
    choosing him out of all humankind.
⁵ He allowed him to hear his voice,
    and led him into the dark cloud,
and gave him the commandments face to face,
    the law of life and knowledge,
so that he might teach Jacob the covenant,
    and Israel his decrees.

⁶ He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses^[c]
    who was his brother, of the tribe of Levi.
⁷ He made an everlasting covenant with him,
    and gave him the priesthood of the people.
He blessed him with stateliness,
    and put a glorious robe on him.
⁸ He clothed him in perfect splendor,
    and strengthened him with the symbols of authority,
    the linen undergarments, the long robe, and the ephod.
⁹ And he encircled him with pomegranates,
    with many golden bells all around,
to send forth a sound as he walked,
    to make their ringing heard in the temple
    as a reminder to his people;
¹⁰ with the sacred vestment, of gold and violet
    and purple, the work of an embroiderer;
with the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim;
¹¹     with twisted crimson, the work of an artisan;
with precious stones engraved like seals,
    in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler,
to commemorate in engraved letters
    each of the tribes of Israel;
¹² with a gold crown upon his turban,
    inscribed like a seal with “Holiness,”
a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert,
    a delight to the eyes, richly adorned.
¹³ Before him such beautiful things did not exist.
    No outsider ever put them on,
but only his sons
    and his descendants in perpetuity.
¹⁴ His sacrifices shall be wholly burned
    twice every day continually.