| 1 It was the High Priest Simon son of Onias who repaired the Temple during his lifetime and in his day fortified the sanctuary. |
| 2 He laid the foundations of double depth, the high buttresses of the Temple precincts. |
| 3 In his day the pool was excavated, a reservoir as huge as the sea. |
| 4 Anxious to save the people from ruin, he fortified the city against siege. |
| 5 How splendid he was with the people thronging round him, when he emerged from the curtained shrine, |
| 6 like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon at the ful , |
| 7 like the sun shining on the Temple of the Most High, like the rainbow gleaming against bril iant clouds, |
| 8 like a rose in springtime, like a lily by a spring, like a branch of the incense tree in summer, |
| 9 like fire and incense in the censer, like a massive golden vessel encrusted with every kind of preciousstone, |
| 10 like an olive tree loaded with fruit, like a cypress soaring to the clouds; |
| 11 when he took his ceremonial robe and put on his magnificent ornaments, when he went up to the holyaltar and fil ed the sanctuary precincts with his grandeur; |
| 12 when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, himself standing by the altar hearth,crowned with the circle of his brothers, as a cedar of Lebanon is by its foliage, as though surrounded by thetrunks of palm trees. |
| 13 When all the sons of Aaron in their glory, with the offerings of the Lord in their hands, stood before thewhole assembly of Israel, |
| 14 while he completed the rites at the altars, nobly presenting the offerings to the Almighty, Most High! |
| 15 He would reach out his hand to the cup and pour a libation of wine, pouring it at the foot of the altar, afragrance pleasing to the Most High, King of All; |
| 16 then the sons of Aaron would shout and blow their metal trumpets, making a mighty sound ring out asa reminder before the Most High; |
| 17 and immediately the people al together would fal on their faces to the ground, in adoration of theirLord, the Almighty, God Most High, |
| 18 and with the cantors chanting their hymns of praise. Sweet was the melody of al these voices, |
| 19 as the people pleaded with the Lord Most High and prayed in the presence of the Merciful, until theservice of the Lord was completed and the ceremony at an end. |
| 20 Then he would come down and raise his hands over the whole assembly of the Israelites, to give themthe Lord's blessing from his lips, being privileged to pronounce his name; |
| 21 and once again the people would bow low to receive the blessing of the Most High. |
| 22 And now bless the God of al things, the doer of great deeds everywhere, who has exalted our daysfrom the womb and has acted merciful y towards us. |
| 23 May he grant us cheerful hearts and bring peace in our time, in Israel for ages on ages. |
| 24 May his mercy be faithfully with us, may he redeem us in our own times! |
| 25 There are two nations that my soul detests, the third is not a nation at al : |
| 26 the inhabitants of Mount Seir, the Philistines, and the stupid people living at Shechem. |
| 27 Instruction in wisdom and knowledge is what has been written in this book by Jesus son of SiraEleazar of Jerusalem, who has poured a rain of wisdom from his heart. |
| 28 Blessed is he who devotes his time to these and grows wise by taking them to heart! |
| 29 If he practises them he will be strong enough for anything, since the light of the Lord is his path. |