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. |