ΣΟΦΙΑ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ - Siracide - Sirach 50

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 σιμων ονιου υιος ιερευς ο μεγας ος εν ζωη αυτου υπερραψεν οικον και εν ημεραις αυτου εστερεωσεν ναον	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 και υπ' αυτου εθεμελιωθη υψος διπλης αναλημμα υψηλον περιβολου ιερου	2 He laid the foundations of double depth, the high buttresses of the Temple precincts.
3 εν ημεραις αυτου ελατομηθη αποδοχειον υδατων λακκος ωσει θαλασσης το περιμετρον	3 In his day the pool was excavated, a reservoir as huge as the sea.
4 ο φροντιζων του λαου αυτου απο πτωσεως και ενισχυσας πολιν εν πολιορκησει	4 Anxious to save the people from ruin, he fortified the city against siege.
5 ως εδοξασθη εν περιστροφη λαου εν εξοδω οικου καταπετασματος	5 How splendid he was with the people thronging round him, when he emerged from the curtained shrine,
6 ως αστηρ εωθινος εν μεσω νεφελων ως σεληνη πληρης εν ημεραις	6 like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon at the ful ,
7 ως ηλιος εκλαμπων επι ναον υψιστου και ως τοξον φωτιζον εν νεφελαις δοξης	7 like the sun shining on the Temple of the Most High, like the rainbow gleaming against bril iant clouds,
8 ως ανθος ροδων εν ημεραις νεων ως κρινα επ' εξοδω υδατος ως βλαστος λιβανου εν ημεραις θερους	8 like a rose in springtime, like a lily by a spring, like a branch of the incense tree in summer,
9 ως πυρ και λιβανος επι πυρειου ως σκευος χρυσιου ολοσφυρητον κεκοσμημενον παντι λιθω πολυτελει	9 like fire and incense in the censer, like a massive golden vessel encrusted with every kind of preciousstone,
10 ως ελαια αναθαλλουσα καρπους και ως κυπαρισσος υψουμενη εν νεφελαις	10 like an olive tree loaded with fruit, like a cypress soaring to the clouds;
11 εν τω αναλαμβανειν αυτον στολην δοξης και ενδιδυσκεσθαι αυτον συντελειαν καυχηματος εν αναβασει θυσιαστηριου αγιου εδοξασεν περιβολην αγιασματος	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 εν δε τω δεχεσθαι μελη εκ χειρων ιερεων και αυτος εστως παρ' εσχαρα βωμου κυκλοθεν αυτου στεφανος αδελφων ως βλαστημα κεδρων εν τω λιβανω και εκυκλωσαν αυτον ως στελεχη φοινικων	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 και παντες οι υιοι ααρων εν δοξη αυτων και προσφορα κυριου εν χερσιν αυτων εναντι πασης εκκλησιας ισραηλ	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 και συντελειαν λειτουργων επι βωμων κοσμησαι προσφοραν υψιστου παντοκρατορος	14 while he completed the rites at the altars, nobly presenting the offerings to the Almighty, Most High!
15 εξετεινεν επι σπονδειου χειρα αυτου και εσπεισεν εξ αιματος σταφυλης εξεχεεν εις θεμελια θυσιαστηριου οσμην ευωδιας υψιστω παμβασιλει	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 τοτε ανεκραγον οι υιοι ααρων εν σαλπιγξιν ελαταις ηχησαν ακουστην εποιησαν φωνην μεγαλην εις μνημοσυνον εναντι υψιστου	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 τοτε πας ο λαος κοινη κατεσπευσαν και επεσαν επι προσωπον επι την γην προσκυνησαι τω κυριω αυτων παντοκρατορι θεω υψιστω	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 και ηνεσαν οι ψαλτωδοι εν φωναις αυτων εν πλειστω ηχω εγλυκανθη μελος	18 and with the cantors chanting their hymns of praise. Sweet was the melody of al these voices,
19 και εδεηθη ο λαος κυριου υψιστου εν προσευχη κατεναντι ελεημονος εως συντελεσθη κοσμος κυριου και την λειτουργιαν αυτου ετελειωσαν	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 τοτε καταβας επηρεν χειρας αυτου επι πασαν εκκλησιαν υιων ισραηλ δουναι ευλογιαν κυριου εκ χειλεων αυτου και εν ονοματι αυτου καυχησασθαι	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 και εδευτερωσαν εν προσκυνησει επιδεξασθαι την ευλογιαν παρα υψιστου	21 and once again the people would bow low to receive the blessing of the Most High.
22 και νυν ευλογησατε τον θεον παντων τον μεγαλα ποιουντα παντη τον υψουντα ημερας ημων εκ μητρας και ποιουντα μεθ' ημων κατα το ελεος αυτου	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 δωη ημιν ευφροσυνην καρδιας και γενεσθαι ειρηνην εν ημεραις ημων εν ισραηλ κατα τας ημερας του αιωνος	23 May he grant us cheerful hearts and bring peace in our time, in Israel for ages on ages.
24 εμπιστευσαι μεθ' ημων το ελεος αυτου και εν ταις ημεραις ημων λυτρωσασθω ημας	24 May his mercy be faithfully with us, may he redeem us in our own times!
25 εν δυσιν εθνεσιν προσωχθισεν η ψυχη μου και το τριτον ουκ εστιν εθνος	25 There are two nations that my soul detests, the third is not a nation at al :
26 οι καθημενοι εν ορει σαμαρειας και φυλιστιιμ και ο λαος ο μωρος ο κατοικων εν σικιμοις	26 the inhabitants of Mount Seir, the Philistines, and the stupid people living at Shechem.
27 παιδειαν συνεσεως και επιστημης εχαραξεν εν τω βιβλιω τουτω ιησους υιος σιραχ ελεαζαρ ο ιεροσολυμιτης ος ανωμβρησεν σοφιαν απο καρδιας αυτου	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 μακαριος ος εν τουτοις αναστραφησεται και θεις αυτα επι καρδιαν αυτου σοφισθησεται	28 Blessed is he who devotes his time to these and grows wise by taking them to heart!
29 εαν γαρ αυτα ποιηση προς παντα ισχυσει οτι φως κυριου το ιχνος αυτου	29 If he practises them he will be strong enough for anything, since the light of the Lord is his path.