Sirach 45

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 Moses was beloved by God and men. The remembrance of him is a blessing.
2 He made him the equal of the holy ones in glory and made him strong, to the terror of his enemies.	2 He made him like the holy ones in glory, and he magnified him by the fear of his enemies, and he appeased great portents by his words.
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 He glorified him in the sight of kings, and he gave commandments to him in the sight of his people, and he revealed his glory to him.
4 For his loyalty and gentleness he sanctified him, choosing him alone out of al human beings;	4 He made him holy by his faith and meekness, and he chose him from among all flesh.
5 he al owed him to hear his voice, and led him into the darkness;	5 For he heard him and his voice, and he led him into a cloud.
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 And he gave him precepts in his presence, with a law of life and discipline, so as to teach Jacob his covenant and Israel his judgments.
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 exalted his brother Aaron and those who were similar to him from the tribe of Levi.
8 He clothed him in glorious perfection and invested him with rich ornaments, the breeches, the longrobe, the ephod.	8 He established an eternal covenant with him, and he gave him the priesthood of the people, and he caused him to be blessed in glory.
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 he encircled him with a glorious belt, and he clothed him with a robe of glory, and he crowned him with virtuous attire.
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 He placed upon him a garment to the feet, and pants, and an ephod, and he wrapped him all around with many little bells of gold,
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 so that there would be a sound at his arrival, and so as to make a noise that would be heard in the temple, as a memorial for the sons of his people.
12 and a golden diadem on his turban, engraved with the seal of consecration; superb ornamentation,magnificent work, adornment to delight the eye.	12 He provided him with a holy robe of gold and hyacinth and purple, a woven work for a wise man of judgment and truth,
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 a work of twisted scarlet, the work of an artist, with precious stones, cut and set in gold, and engraved by the work of a jeweler, as a memorial according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
14 His sacrifices were to be burnt entirely, twice each day and for ever.	14 He provided him with a crown of gold upon his headdress, on which was written a symbol of holiness, a mark of honor. This was a work of virtue and a delight to the eyes in its beauty.
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 Prior to him, there was no one of such beauty, even from the beginning.
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 No foreigner was ever clothed with these things, but only his sons and his descendents alone, for all time.
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 His sacrifices were consumed by fire daily.
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 Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.
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 An eternal covenant was made, with him and with his offspring, like the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, and to give praise and to glorify his people, in his name.
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 He chose him from among all living men to offer to God sacrifice, incense, and a pleasing fragrance, as a memorial of appeasement on behalf of his people.
21 Thus they eat the sacrifices of the Lord which he gave to him and his posterity.	21 And he gave him authority by his precepts, in the covenants of his judgments, to teach Jacob his testimonies, and to give light by his law to 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.'	22 Then strangers stood up against him, and, because of envy, the men who were with Dathan and Abiram surrounded him in the desert, along with the congregation of Korah, in their anger.
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 The Lord God saw this, and it did not please him, and so they were consumed by the force of his anger.
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 He wrought great portents among them, and he consumed them with a flame of fire.
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 And he added glory to Aaron, and he gave him an inheritance, and he allotted to him the first-fruits of the earth.
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 He prepared for them the finest bread unto fullness. And they shall also eat from the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his offspring.
	27 And yet he will not have an inheritance among the people of the land, and he has no portion among the people. For the Lord himself is his portion and his inheritance.
	28 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, is third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord.
	29 And he stood up against the shamefulness of the people. By the goodness and responsiveness of his soul, he appeased God on behalf of Israel.
	30 For this reason, he made him a covenant of peace, a leader of the sanctuary and of his people, so that the dignity of the priesthood would remain with him and with his offspring unto eternity.
	31 And he made a covenant with king David, the son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah, an inheritance for him and for his offspring, so that he might provide wisdom for our hearts, so as to judge his people in justice, lest their good things be abolished. And he caused their glory within their nation to be everlasting.