High Priest Simon
1 Simon, Onias' son, was a great high priest. During his life, he repaired the house and, in his time, strengthened the temple's defenses.
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He made the foundation for the courtyard wall, a high fortification for the temple enclosure.
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In his time, he dug out a storage basin for water, a reservoir with a circumference like a lake's.
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He gave forethought to keeping his people from disaster, and he strengthened the city against sieges.
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How glorious he was as the people thronged around him when he came out from behind the curtain and left the temple!
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Like a morning star in the midst of a cloud, like the full moon at the time of a feast,
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like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like a rainbow gleaming in glorious clouds,
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like a rose blossom in springtime, like lilies by streams of water, like a fresh shoot of the incense tree in the summertime,
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like fire and incense in an incense burner, like an object of hammered gold adorned with all sorts of precious stones,
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like an olive tree sprouting fruit, and like a cypress towering to the clouds.
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When he put on his glorious robe and clothed himself with perfect splendor, when he stepped up to the holy altar, he brought glory to the courts of the temple.
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When he received the portions of the sacrificial animals from the priests' hands, standing beside the altar's hearth, surrounded by a wreath of brothers, he was like a new cedar of Lebanon, and they surrounded him like palm-tree trunks.
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All Aaron's sons were in their glory, and they held the Lord's offering in their hands in front of the entire assembly of Israel.
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When he was finishing his service at the altar, after he had arranged an offering to the Most High, the almighty,
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he stretched out his hand for the cup used for drink offerings and he poured a libation of wine. He poured it out at the base of the altar, a pleasing aroma to the Most High, the king of all.
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Then Aaron's sons cheered; they blew trumpets made of hammered metal and caused a great sound to be heard as a reminder before the Most High.
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Then all at once, all the people put their faces to the ground, bowing down to worship their Lord, the almighty, God Most High.
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The singers, accompanied by harps, sang praises with their voices; they made a sweet melody with a full-bodied sound.
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The people of the Lord Most High offered prayers before the merciful one until the order of the Lord's service was completed, and they finished their worship duties to him.
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Then Simon came down and raised his hands over the entire assembly of the Israelites to give the Lord's blessing from his lips and to glorify his name.
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And they bowed down to worship a second time, to receive the blessing from the Most High.
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Now bless the God of all who everywhere does great things, who raises us up from our birth and deals mercifully with us.
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May he give us gladness in our hearts, and may there be peace in our time, in Israel as in times past.
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May he grant us his mercy, and may he rescue us in our lifetime.
Epilogue
25 My spirit takes offense at two nations, and the third is not even a nation:
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those who settled on Samaria's hills, the Philistines, and the foolish people who dwell in Shechem.
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Instruction in understanding and knowledge were inscribed in this scroll by Jesus, Sirach's son and grandson of Eleazar the Jerusalemite. He poured forth wisdom from his heart.
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Favored are those who devote their time to these things; when they take them to heart, they will be wise.
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Indeed, if they do these things, they will be up to any task, because the fear of the Lord is their path.