Sirach 45:15-26

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

¹⁵ Moses ordained him,
    and anointed him with holy oil;
it was an everlasting covenant for him
    and for his descendants as long as the heavens endure,
to minister to the Lord^[a] and serve as priest
    and bless his people in his name.
¹⁶ He chose him out of all the living
    to offer sacrifice to the Lord,
incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion,
    to make atonement for the^[b] people.
¹⁷ In his commandments he gave him
    authority and statutes and^[c] judgments,
to teach Jacob the testimonies,
    and to enlighten Israel with his law.
¹⁸ Outsiders conspired against him,
    and envied him in the wilderness,
Dathan and Abiram and their followers
    and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger.
¹⁹ The Lord saw it and was not pleased,
    and in the heat of his anger they were destroyed;
he performed wonders against them
    to consume them in flaming fire.
²⁰ He added glory to Aaron
    and gave him a heritage;
he allotted to him the best of the first fruits,
    and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance;
²¹ for they eat the sacrifices of the Lord,
    which he gave to him and his descendants.
²² But in the land of the people he has no inheritance,
    and he has no portion among the people;
    for the Lord^[d] himself is his^[e] portion and inheritance.

²³ Phinehas son of Eleazar ranks third in glory
    for being zealous in the fear of the Lord,
and standing firm, when the people turned away,
    in the noble courage of his soul;
    and he made atonement for Israel.
²⁴ Therefore a covenant of friendship was established with him,
    that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people,
that he and his descendants should have
    the dignity of the priesthood forever.
²⁵ Just as a covenant was established with David
    son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah,
that the king’s heritage passes only from son to son,
    so the heritage of Aaron is for his descendants alone.