1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:

1 Simon, Oniæ filius, sacerdos magnus,
qui in vita sua suffulsit domum,
et in diebus suis corroboravit templum.

2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:

2 Templi etiam altitudo ab ipso fundata est,
duplex ædificatio, et excelsi parietes templi.

3 In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:

3 In diebus ipsius emanaverunt putei aquarum,
et quasi mare adimpleti sunt supra modum.

4 He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:

4 Qui curavit gentem suam,
et liberavit eam a perditione:

5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!

5 qui prævaluit amplificare civitatem,
qui adeptus est gloriam in conversatione gentis,
et ingressum domus et atrii amplificavit.

6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:

6 Quasi stella matutina in medio nebulæ,
et quasi luna plena, in diebus suis lucet:

7 As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:

7 et quasi sol refulgens,
sic ille effulsit in templo Dei.

8 And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer:

8 Quasi arcus refulgens inter nebulas gloriæ,
et quasi flos rosarum in diebus vernis,
et quasi lilia quæ sunt in transitu aquæ,
et quasi thus redolens in diebus æstatis:

9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:

9 quasi ignis effulgens,
et thus ardens in igne:

10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.

10 quasi vas auri solidum,
ornatum omni lapide pretioso:

11 When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the garment of holiness honourable.

11 quasi oliva pullulans, et cypressus in altitudinem se extollens,
in accipiendo ipsum stolam gloriæ,
et vestiri eum in consummationem virtutis.

12 When he took the portions out of the priests' hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed with his brethren round about, as a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.

12 In ascensu altaris sancti
gloriam dedit sanctitatis amictum.

13 So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.

13 In accipiendo autem partes de manu sacerdotum,
et ipse stans juxta aram:
et circa illum corona fratrum:
quasi plantatio cedri in monte Libano,

14 And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,

14 sic circa illum steterunt quasi rami palmæ:
et omnes filii Aaron in gloria sua.

15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all.

15 Oblatio autem Domini in manibus ipsorum
coram omni synagoga Israël:
et consummatione fungens in ara,
amplificare oblationem excelsi Regis,

16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.

16 porrexit manum suam in libatione,
et libavit de sanguine uvæ.

17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.

17 Effudit in fundamento altaris
odorem divinum excelso Principi.

18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.

18 Tunc exclamaverunt filii Aaron,
in tubis productilibus sonuerunt:
et auditam fecerunt vocem magnam in memoriam coram Deo.

19 And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his service.

19 Tunc omnis populus simul properaverunt,
et ceciderunt in faciem super terram,
adorare Dominum Deum suum,
et dare preces omnipotenti Deo excelso.

20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.

20 Et amplificaverunt psallentes in vocibus suis,
et in magna domo auctus est sonus suavitatis plenus.

21 And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.

21 Et rogavit populus Dominum excelsum in prece,
usque dum perfectus est honor Domini,
et munus suum perfecerunt.

22 Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.

22 Tunc descendens, manus suas extulit
in omnem congregationem filiorum Israël,
dare gloriam Deo a labiis suis,
et in nomine ipsius gloriari:

23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:

23 et iteravit orationem suam,
volens ostendere virtutem Dei.

24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!

24 Et nunc orate Deum omnium, qui magna fecit in omni terra,
qui auxit dies nostros a ventre matris nostræ,
et fecit nobiscum secundum suam misericordiam:

25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:

25 det nobis jucunditatem cordis,
et fieri pacem in diebus nostris in Israël per dies sempiternos:

26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

26 credere Israël nobiscum esse Dei misericordiam,
ut liberet nos in diebus suis.

27 Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem hath written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.

27 ¶ Duas gentes odit anima mea:
tertia autem non est gens quam oderim:

28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.

28 qui sedent in monte Seir, et Philisthiim,
et stultus populus qui habitat in Sichimis.

29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed be the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.

29 ¶ Doctrinam sapientiæ et disciplinæ scripsit in codice isto
Jesus, filius Sirach, Jerosolymita,
qui renovavit sapientiam de corde suo.

30 Beatus qui in istis versatur bonis:
qui ponit illa in corde suo, sapiens erit semper.

31 Si enim hæc fecerit, ad omnia valebit, quia lux Dei vestigium ejus est.