Ben Sira 50:6-16

6 Like the morning star among the clouds, like the moon when it is full;
7 like the sun shining upon the temple of the Most High, and like the rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds;
8 like roses in the days of the first fruits, like lilies by a spring of water, like a green shoot on Lebanon on a summer day;
9 like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of hammered gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones;
10 like an olive tree putting forth its fruit, and like a cypress towering in the clouds.
11 When he put on his glorious robe and clothed himself with superb perfection and went up to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.
12 And when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, as he stood by the hearth of the altar with a garland of brethren around him, he was like a young cedar on Lebanon; and they surrounded him like the trunks of palm trees,
13 all the sons of Aaron in their splendor with the Lord's offering in their hands, before the whole congregation of Israel.
14 Finishing the service at the altars, and arranging the offering to the Most High, the Almighty,
15 he reached out his hand to the cup and poured a libation of the blood of the grape; he poured it out at the foot of the altar, a pleasing odor to the Most High, the King of all.
16 Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded the trumpets of hammered work, they made a great noise to be heard for remembrance before the Most High.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.