Sirach 45

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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.	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.
2 He made him the equal of the holy ones in glory and made him strong, to the terror of his enemies.	2 God's honor devolved upon him, and the Lord strengthened him with fearful powers;
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.	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.
4 For his loyalty and gentleness he sanctified him, choosing him alone out of al human beings;	4 For his trustworthiness and meekness God selected him from all mankind;
5 he al owed him to hear his voice, and led him into the darkness;	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.
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.	6 He raised up also, like Moses in holiness, his brother AARON, of the tribe of Levi.
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.	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;
8 He clothed him in glorious perfection and invested him with rich ornaments, the breeches, the longrobe, the ephod.	8 He clothed him with splendid apparel, and adorned him with the glorious vestments: Breeches and tunic and robe with pomegranates around the hem,
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;	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;
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;	10 The sacred vestments of gold, of violet, and of crimson, wrought with embroidery; The breastpiece for decision, the ephod and cincture
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;	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;
12 and a golden diadem on his turban, engraved with the seal of consecration; superb ornamentation,magnificent work, adornment to delight the eye.	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.
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.	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.
14 His sacrifices were to be burnt entirely, twice each day and for ever.	14 His cereal offering is wholly burnt with the established sacrifice twice each day;
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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;
21 Thus they eat the sacrifices of the Lord which he gave to him and his posterity.	21 The oblations of the LORD are his food, a gift to him and his descendants.
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.'	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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!	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.