Sirach 45

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 From him was to spring the man who won the favor of all: Dear to God and men, MOSES, whose memory is held in benediction.	1 From Jacob's stock he produced a generous man who found favour in the eyes of al humanity, belovedby God and people, Moses, of blessed memory.
2 God's honor devolved upon him, and the Lord strengthened him with fearful powers;	2 He made him the equal of the holy ones in glory and made him strong, to the terror of his enemies.
3 God wrought swift miracles at his words and sustained him in the king's presence. He gave him the commandments for his people, and revealed to him his glory.	3 By the word of Moses, he made prodigies cease and raised him high in the respect of kings; he gavehim commandments for his people, and showed him something of his glory.
4 For his trustworthiness and meekness God selected him from all mankind;	4 For his loyalty and gentleness he sanctified him, choosing him alone out of al human beings;
5 He permitted him to hear his voice, and led him into the cloud, Where, face to face, he gave him the commandments, the law of life and understanding, That he might teach his precepts to Jacob, his judgments and decrees to Israel.	5 he al owed him to hear his voice, and led him into the darkness;
6 He raised up also, like Moses in holiness, his brother AARON, of the tribe of Levi.	6 he gave him the commandments face to face, the law of life and knowledge, to teach Jacob hisordinances and Israel his decrees. He raised up Aaron, a holy man like Moses, his brother, of the tribe of Levi.
7 He made him perpetual in his office when he bestowed on him the priesthood of his people; He established him in honor and crowned him with lofty majesty;	7 He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He adorned himwith impressive vestments, he dressed him in a robe of glory.
8 He clothed him with splendid apparel, and adorned him with the glorious vestments: Breeches and tunic and robe with pomegranates around the hem,	8 He clothed him in glorious perfection and invested him with rich ornaments, the breeches, the longrobe, the ephod.
9 And a rustle of bells round about, through whose pleasing sound at each step He would be heard within the sanctuary, and the children of his race would be remembered;	9 To surround the robe he gave him pomegranates, and many gold bel s al round to chime at every step,for their sound to be heard in the Temple as a reminder to the children of his people;
10 The sacred vestments of gold, of violet, and of crimson, wrought with embroidery; The breastpiece for decision, the ephod and cincture	10 and a sacred vestment of gold and aquamarine and scarlet, the work of an embroiderer; the pectoralof judgement, the urim and thummim, of plaited crimson, the work of a craftsman;
11 with scarlet yarn, the work of the weaver; Precious stones with seal engravings in golden settings, the work of the jeweler, To commemorate in incised letters each of the tribes of Israel;	11 precious stones cut like seals mounted in gold, the work of a jeweller, as a reminder with theirengraved inscriptions of the number of the tribes of Israel;
12 On his turban the diadem of gold, its plate wrought with the insignia of holiness, Majestic, glorious, renowned for splendor, a delight to the eyes, beauty supreme.	12 and a golden diadem on his turban, engraved with the seal of consecration; superb ornamentation,magnificent work, adornment to delight the eye.
13 Before him, no one was adorned with these, nor may they ever be worn by any Except his sons and them alone, generation after generation, for all time.	13 There had never been such lovely things before him, and no one else has ever put them on, but onlyhis own sons, and his descendants for all time.
14 His cereal offering is wholly burnt with the established sacrifice twice each day;	14 His sacrifices were to be burnt entirely, twice each day and for ever.
15 For Moses ordained him and anointed him with the holy oil, In a lasting covenant with him and with his family, as permanent as the heavens, That he should serve God in his priesthood and bless his people in his name.	15 Moses consecrated him and anointed him with holy oil; and this was an everlasting covenant for him,and for his descendants as long as the heavens endure, that he should preside over worship, act as priest, andbless the people in the name of the Lord.
16 He chose him from all mankind to offer holocausts and choice offerings, To burn sacrifices of sweet odor for a memorial, and to atone for the people of Israel.	16 He chose him out of al the living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense and perfume as a memorial tomake expiation for the people.
17 He gave to him his laws, and authority to prescribe and to judge: To teach the precepts to his people, and the ritual to the descendants of Israel.	17 He entrusted him with his commandments, committed to him the statutes of the Law for him to teachJacob his decrees and enlighten Israel on his Law.
18 Men of other families were inflamed against him, were jealous of him in the desert, The followers of Dathan and Abiram, and the band of Korah in their defiance.	18 Others plotted against him, they were jealous of him in the desert, Dathan and Abiram and their men,Korah and his crew in fury and rage.
19 But the LORD saw this and became angry, he destroyed them in his burning wrath. He brought down upon them a miracle, and consumed them with his flaming fire.	19 The Lord saw it and was displeased, his raging fury made an end of them; he worked miracles onthem, consuming them by his flaming fire.
20 Then he increased the glory of Aaron and bestowed upon him his inheritance: The sacred offerings he allotted to him, with the showbread as his portion;	20 And he added to Aaron's glory, he gave him an inheritance; he allotted him the offerings of the first-fruits, before al else, as much bread as he could want.
21 The oblations of the LORD are his food, a gift to him and his descendants.	21 Thus they eat the sacrifices of the Lord which he gave to him and his posterity.
22 But he holds no land among the people nor shares with them their heritage; For the LORD himself is his portion, his inheritance in the midst of Israel.	22 But of the people's territory he inherits nothing, he alone of all the people has no share, 'For I myselfam your share and heritage.'
23 PHINEHAS too, the son of Eleazar, was the courageous third of his line When, zealous for the God of all, he met the crisis of his people And, at the prompting of his noble heart, atoned for the children of Israel.	23 Phinehas son of Eleazar is third in glory because of his zeal in the fear of the Lord, because he stoodfirm when the people revolted, with a staunch and courageous heart; and in this way made expiation for Israel.
24 Therefore on him again God conferred the right, in a covenant of friendship, to provide for the sanctuary, So that he and his descendants should possess the high priesthood forever.	24 Hence a covenant of peace was sealed with him, making him governor of both sanctuary and people,and securing to him and his descendants the high priestly dignity for ever.
25 For even his covenant with David, the son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah, Was an individual heritage through one son alone; but the heritage of Aaron is for all his descendants.	25 There was also a covenant with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, a royal succession byexclusively linear descent, but the succession of Aaron passes to al his descendants.
26 And now bless the LORD who has crowned you with glory! May he grant you wisdom of heart to govern his people in justice, Lest their welfare should ever be forgotten, or your authority, throughout all time.	26 May God endow your hearts with wisdom to judge his people uprightly, so that the virtues of yourancestors may never fade, and their glory may pass to all their descendants!