Sirach 45:6-16

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

⁶ He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses^[a]
    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 splendour,
    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 round,
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 judgement, 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 jeweller,
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.
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^[b] 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 odour as a memorial portion,
    to make atonement for the^[c] people.