The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 45 -

The praises of Moses, of Aaron, and of Phinees.

Moses was beloved by God and men. The remembrance of him is a blessing.

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.

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.

He made him holy by his faith and meekness, and he chose him from among all flesh.

For he heard him and his voice, and he led him into a cloud.

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.

He exalted his brother Aaron and those who were similar to him from the tribe of Levi.

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.

And he encircled him with a glorious belt, and he clothed him with a robe of glory, and he crowned him with virtuous attire.

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,(a)

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.

He provided him with a holy robe of gold and hyacinth and purple, a woven work for a wise man of judgment and truth,

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.

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.

Prior to him, there was no one of such beauty, even from the beginning.

No foreigner was ever clothed with these things, but only his sons and his descendants alone, for all time.

His sacrifices were consumed by fire daily.

Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Lord God saw this, and it did not please him, and so they were consumed by the force of his anger.

He wrought great portents among them, and he consumed them with a flame of fire.

And he added glory to Aaron, and he gave him an inheritance, and he allotted to him the first-fruits of the earth.

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.

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.

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, is third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord.

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.

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.

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.

Footnotes

(a)45:10 The word ‘femoralia’ refers to an undergarment, similar to pants or shorts, which Jewish priests and Levites wore for the sake of modesty.(Conte)

The praises of Moses, of Aaron, and of Phinees.

He brought out of him a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all people, a man loved by God and men, even Moses, whose memory is blessed.

He made him equal to the glory of the saints, and magnified him in the fears of his enemies.

By his words he caused the wonders to cease. God glorified him in the sight of kings. He gave him commandments for his people and showed him part of his glory.

He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness. He chose him out of all people.

He made him to hear his voice, led him into the thick darkness, and gave him commandments face to face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his judgments.

He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

He established an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and dressed him in a glorious robe.

He clothed him in perfect splendor, and strengthened him with symbols of authority: the linen trousers, the long robe, and the ephod.

He encircled him with pomegranates; with many golden bells around him, to make a sound as he went, to make a sound that might be heard in the temple, for a reminder for the children of his people;

with a holy garment, with gold, blue, and purple, the work of the embroiderer; with an oracle of judgment—Urim and Thummim;

with twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman; with precious stones engraved like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller, for a reminder engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel;

with a crown of gold upon the mitre, having engraved on it, as on a signet, “HOLINESS”, an ornament of honor, the work of an expert, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

Before him there never have been anything like it. No stranger put them on, but only his sons and his offspring perpetually.

His sacrifices shall be wholly burned, twice every day continually.

Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil. It was an everlasting covenant with him and to his offspring, all the days of heaven, to minister to the Lord, to serve as a priest, and to bless his people in his name.

He chose him out of all living to offer sacrifice to the Lord— incense, and a sweet fragrance, for a memorial, to make atonement for your people.

He gave to him in his commandments, authority in the covenants of judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel in his law.

Strangers conspired against him and envied him in the wilderness: Dathan and Abiram with their company, and the congregation of Korah, with wrath and anger.

The Lord saw it, and it displeased him. In the wrath of his anger, they were destroyed. He did wonders upon them, to consume them with flaming fire.

He added glory to Aaron, and gave him a heritage. He divided to him the first fruits of the increase, and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance.

For they eat the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his offspring.

However, in the land of the people, he has no inheritance, and he has no portion among the people, for the Lord himself is your portion and inheritance.

Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, in that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, and stood fast when the people turned away, and he made atonement for Israel.

Therefore, a covenant of peace was established for him, that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people, that he and his offspring should have the dignity of the priesthood forever.

Also he made a covenant with David the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah. The inheritance of the king is his alone from son to son. So the inheritance of Aaron is also to his seed.

May God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things may not be abolished, and that their glory may endure for all their generations.