Wisdom of Ben Sira 50:1-21
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 50
Praise of the High Priest Simon[a]
1 It was the high priest Simon, son of Onias,
in whose lifetime the house was repaired
and in whose days the temple was fortified.
2 He also laid the foundations for the high double walls
that enclosed the temple precincts.
3 In his time a water cistern was constructed,
a pool with the vastness of the sea.
4 His concern was to ward off disaster from his people,
and he fortified the city against siege.
5 How glorious he was, with the people thronging around him,
as he emerged from behind the veil of the sanctuary.
6 He was like the morning star shining among the clouds,
like the full moon at the festal season,
7 like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High,
like the rainbow appearing in a cloudy sky,
8 like a rose in springtime,
like a lily by a spring of water,
like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer’s day,
9 like incense set afire in the censer,
like a vessel of beaten gold
embellished with every kind of precious stone,
10 like an olive tree laden with fruit,
like a cypress reaching to the clouds.
11 When he put on his magnificent robes
and clothed himself in his garments of splendor,
as he went up to the holy altar,
he brought majestic glory to the court of the sanctuary.
12 When he received the portions from the hands of the priests
while he stood by the hearth of the altar,
with his brethren encircling him like a garland,
he was like a young cedar of Lebanon
surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.
13 All the sons of Aaron in their splendor
held the Lord’s offerings in their hands
as they stood in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel.
14 When he had completed the rites at the altar
and arranged the sacrificial offerings to the Almighty, the Most High,
15 he stretched forth his hand for the cup
and poured out a libation from the juice of the grape,
pouring it out at the foot of the altar,
a sweet-smelling fragrance to the Most High, the king of all.
16 Then the sons of Aaron would shout
and blow their trumpets of beaten metal,
sounding a mighty fanfare
as a reminder before the Most High.
17 Then all together the people
would quickly fall prostrate to the ground
in adoration of their Lord,
the Almighty, God Most High.
18 Then the choir would chant hymns of praise
that were sweet, melodious, and full-toned,
19 while the people were pleading with the Lord Most High
and praying before the Merciful One,
until the service of the Lord was finished
and the liturgical ceremony was completed.
20 Then Simon would come down and raise his hands
over the whole assembly of the Israelites
to pronounce the blessing of the Lord with his lips
and to glory in his name.
21 And once again the people would bow down in worship
to receive the blessing of the Most High.
Footnotes
- Wisdom of Ben Sira 50:1 To the review of the glories of the past, the author has added—possibly at a later date—a long compliment in honor of the high priest Simon II (220–195 B.C.), whom he seems to have known. The discourse evokes the works realized by the pontiff but above all, in the exercise of his religious functions.
