HOLY BIBLE: Sirach 45

1 ἠγαπημένον ὑπὸ θεοῦ καὶ ἀνθρώπων Μωυσῆν οὗ τὸ μνημόσυνον ἐν εὐλογίαις 2 ὡμοίωσεν αὐτὸν δόξῃ ἁγίων καὶ ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτὸν ἐν φόβοις ἐχθρῶν ἐν λόγοις αὐτοῦ σημεῖα κατέπαυσεν 3 ἐδόξασεν αὐτὸν κατὰ πρόσωπον βασιλέων ἐνετείλατο αὐτῷ πρὸς λαὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδειξεν αὐτῷ τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ 4 ἐν πίστει καὶ πραΰτητι αὐτὸν ἡγίασεν ἐξελέξατο αὐτὸν ἐκ πάσης σαρκός 5 ἠκούτισεν αὐτὸν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰσήγαγεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν γνόφον 6 καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κατὰ πρόσωπον ἐντολάς νόμον ζωῆς καὶ ἐπιστήμης διδάξαι τὸν Ιακωβ διαθήκην καὶ κρίματα αὐτοῦ τὸν Ισραηλ 1 Well loved by God, well loved among men, on the name of Moses a benediction rests. 2 The Lord gave him such honour as he gives to his holy ones; gave him renown by striking terror into his enemies, and then, at his word, abated the prodigies that had befallen them. 3 He made him great in the eyes of kings, entrusted commandments to him in full view of the chosen people, made a revelation to him of the divine glory. 4 The Lord set him apart, chosen out from the rest of mankind, so loyal he was and so gentle; 5 answered his prayer by taking him up into a cloud, 6 and there, face to face, imparting commandments to him, the law that gives life and wisdom; here, Jacob, was thy covenant, here Israel, the rule thou wast to live by. 1

Dilectus Deo et hominibus Moyses,
cujus memoria in benedictione est.

2
Similem illum fecit in gloria sanctorum,
et magnificavit eum in timore inimicorum,
et in verbis suis monstra placavit. 3
Glorificavit illum in conspectu regum,
et jussit illi coram populo suo,
et ostendit illi gloriam suam. 4
In fide et lenitate ipsius sanctum fecit illum,
et elegit eum ex omni carne. 5
Audivit enim eum, et vocem ipsius,
et induxit illum in nubem. 6
Et dedit illi coram præcepta,
et legem vitæ et disciplinæ,
docere Jacob testamentum suum,
et judicia sua Israël.

7 Ααρων ὕψωσεν ἅγιον ὅμοιον αὐτῷ ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ φυλῆς Λευι 8 ἔστησεν αὐτὸν διαθήκην αἰῶνος καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἱερατείαν λαοῦ ἐμακάρισεν αὐτὸν ἐν εὐκοσμίᾳ 9 καὶ περιέζωσεν αὐτὸν περιστολὴν δόξης ἐνέδυσεν αὐτὸν συντέλειαν καυχήματος καὶ ἐστερέωσεν αὐτὸν σκεύεσιν ἰσχύος 10 περισκελῆ καὶ ποδήρη καὶ ἐπωμίδα καὶ ἐκύκλωσεν αὐτὸν ῥοΐσκοις χρυσοῖς κώδωσιν πλείστοις κυκλόθεν 11 ἠχῆσαι φωνὴν ἐν βήμασιν αὐτοῦ ἀκουστὸν ποιῆσαι ἦχον ἐν ναῷ εἰς μνημόσυνον υἱοῖς λαοῦ αὐτοῦ 12 στολῇ ἁγίᾳ χρυσῷ καὶ ὑακίνθῳ καὶ πορφύρᾳ ἔργῳ ποικιλτοῦ λογείῳ κρίσεως δήλοις ἀληθείας 13 κεκλωσμένῃ κόκκῳ ἔργῳ τεχνίτου λίθοις πολυτελέσιν γλύμματος σφραγῖδος ἐν δέσει χρυσίου ἔργῳ λιθουργοῦ εἰς μνημόσυνον ἐν γραφῇ κεκολαμμένῃ κα{T'} ἀριθμὸν φυλῶν Ισραηλ 14 στέφανον χρυσοῦν ἐπάνω κιδάρεως ἐκτύπωμα σφραγῖδος ἁγιάσματος καύχημα τιμῆς ἔργον ἰσχύος ἐπιθυμήματα ὀφθαλμῶν κοσμούμενα 15 ὡραῖα πρὸ αὐτοῦ οὐ γέγονεν τοιαῦτα ἕως αἰῶνος 16 οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἀλλογενὴς πλὴν τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ μόνον καὶ τὰ ἔκγονα αὐτοῦ διὰ παντός 7 Of Levite blood, too, sprang another renowned as Moses himself, his brother Aaron. To Aaron the Lord gave high office, 8 making an eternal covenant with him, investing him with the priesthood of the chosen race, enriching him with his own glory. 9 Bright was the cincture that girded him, bright the robe that clothed him; no ornament he wore but spoke of majesty. 10 The long tunic, the breeches, the sacred mantle, and golden bells a many compassing him about, 11 that tinkled still as he walked, echoing through the temple to keep Israel’s name unforgotten! 12 The hallowed robe, all gold and blue and purple, work of a master weaver, that lacked neither skill nor faithfulness![1] 13 What craftsmanship of twisted thread dyed scarlet, of rare stones in a gold setting, engraved with all the gem-cutter’s art, twelve of them to commemorate the twelve tribes of Israel! 14 The gold finishing, too, of his mitre, engraved with the legend, Holiness; so proud an adornment, so noble a work of art, such a lure for men’s eyes in its ordered beauty! 15 Never vesture till then was seen so fair; and, from time immemorial, 16 no other might put it on, only the sons of Aaron’s line, in undying succession. 7

Excelsum fecit Aaron fratrem ejus,
et similem sibi, de tribu Levi.

8
Statuit ei testamentum æternum,
et dedit illi sacerdotium gentis,
et beatificavit illum in gloria: 9
et circumcinxit eum zona gloriæ,
et induit eum stolam gloriæ,
et coronavit eum in vasis virtutis. 10
Circumpedes, et femoralia, et humerale posuit ei:
et cinxit illum tintinnabulis aureis plurimis in gyro: 11
dare sonitum in incessu suo,
auditum facere sonitum in templo
in memoriam filiis gentis suæ. 12
Stolam sanctam auro, et hyacintho, et purpura,
opus textile viri sapientis, judicio et veritate præditi: 13
torto cocco opus artificis
gemmis pretiosis figuratis in ligatura auri,
et opere lapidarii sculptis,
in memoriam secundum numerum tribuum Israël. 14
Corona aurea super mitram ejus
expressa signo sanctitatis, et gloria honoris:
opus virtutis, et desideria oculorum ornata. 15
Sic pulchra ante ipsum non fuerunt talia
usque ad originem. 16
Non est indutus illa alienigena aliquis,
sed tantum filii ipsius soli,
et nepotes ejus per omne tempus.

17 θυσίαι αὐτοῦ ὁλοκαρπωθήσονται κα{Q'} ἡμέραν ἐνδελεχῶς δίς 18 ἐπλήρωσεν Μωυσῆς τὰς χεῖρας καὶ ἔχρισεν αὐτὸν ἐν ἐλαίῳ ἁγίῳ 19 ἐγενήθη αὐτῷ εἰς διαθήκην αἰῶνος καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ ἐν ἡμέραις οὐρανοῦ λειτουργεῖν αὐτῷ ἅμα καὶ ἱερατεύειν καὶ εὐλογεῖν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι 20 ἐξελέξατο αὐτὸν ἀπὸ παντὸς ζῶντος προσαγαγεῖν κάρπωσιν κυρίῳ θυμίαμα καὶ εὐωδίαν εἰς μνημόσυνον ἐξιλάσκεσθαι περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ σου 21 ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ ἐξουσίαν ἐν διαθήκαις κριμάτων διδάξαι τὸν Ιακωβ τὰ μαρτύρια καὶ ἐν νόμῳ αὐτοῦ φωτίσαι Ισραηλ 22 ἐπισυνέστησαν αὐτῷ ἀλλότριοι καὶ ἐζήλωσαν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ἄνδρες οἱ περὶ Δαθαν καὶ Αβιρων καὶ ἡ συναγωγὴ Κορε ἐν θυμῷ καὶ ὀργῇ 23 εἶδεν κύριος καὶ οὐκ εὐδόκησεν καὶ συνετελέσθησαν ἐν θυμῷ ὀργῆς 24 ἐποίησεν αὐτοῖς τέρατα καταναλῶσαι ἐν πυρὶ φλογὸς αὐτοῦ 25 καὶ προσέθηκεν Ααρων δόξαν καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἀπαρχὰς πρωτογενημάτων ἐμέρισεν αὐτῷ 26 ἄρτον πρώτοις ἡτοίμασεν πλησμονήν καὶ γὰρ θυσίας κυρίου φάγονται ἃς ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ τε καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ 27 πλὴν ἐν γῇ λαοῦ οὐ κληρονομήσει καὶ μερὶς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ ἐν λαῷ αὐτὸς γὰρ μερίς σου καὶ κληρονομία 17 Day in, day out the fire should consume his sacrifice; 18 when Moses consecrated him with the holy oil’s anointing, 19 this was a right granted in perpetuity, long as the heavens should last. His to perform the priest’s office, to echo God’s praise, to bless the people in his name. 20 Alone of living men, he was chosen out to offer sacrifice, and the sweet-smelling incense that is a people’s plea for remembrance, a people’s atonement. 21 Power was his to administer the divine decrees, a justiciary by right, handing on to Jacob its tradition, giving Israel the law’s light to guide it. 22 Once, out in the desert, that right was challenged; with envious cries, men of another clan surrounded him, Dathan and Abiron for their leaders, espousing Core’s quarrel. 23 Ill-content was the Lord God at the sight of it; his vengeance swept them away; 24 by no common doom, a raging flame devoured them. 25 Fresh privileges for Aaron were kept in store; he must share in the conquest by receiving all the land’s first-fruits; 26 his clan first of all must have bread enough and to spare, his children should inherit the eating of the Lord’s own sacrifice. 27 But he must have no lands in the conquered territory, no share like the rest of his race; the Lord should be his wealth, the Lord his portion. 17
Sacrificia ipsius
consumpta sunt igne quotidie. 18
Complevit Moyses manus ejus,
et unxit illum oleo sancto. 19
Factum est illi in testamentum æternum,
et semini ejus, sicut dies cæli,
fungi sacerdotio, et habere laudem,
et glorificare populum suum in nomine ejus. 20
Ipsum elegit ab omni vivente,
offerre sacrificium Deo, incensum, et bonum odorem,
in memoriam placare pro populo suo: 21
et dedit illi in præceptis suis potestatem,
in testamentis judiciorum:
docere Jacob testimonia,
et in lege sua lucem dare Israël. 22
Quia contra illum steterunt alieni,
et propter invidiam circumdederunt illum homines in deserto,
qui erant cum Dathan et Abiron,
et congregatio Core in iracundia. 23
Vidit Dominus Deus, et non placuit illi,
et consumpti sunt in impetu iracundiæ. 24
Fecit illis monstra,
et consumpsit illos in flamma ignis. 25
Et addidit Aaron gloriam,
et dedit illi hæreditatem,
et primitias frugum terræ divisit illi. 26
Panem ipsis in primis paravit in satietatem:
nam et sacrificia Domini edent,
quæ dedit illi et semini ejus. 27
Ceterum in terra gentes non hæreditabit,
et pars non est illi in gente:
ipse est enim pars ejus, et hæreditas.

28 καὶ Φινεες υἱὸς Ελεαζαρ τρίτος εἰς δόξαν ἐν τῷ ζηλῶσαι αὐτὸν ἐν φόβῳ κυρίου 29 καὶ στῆναι αὐτὸν ἐν τροπῇ λαοῦ ἐν ἀγαθότητι προθυμίας ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξιλάσατο περὶ τοῦ Ισραηλ 30 διὰ τοῦτο ἐστάθη αὐτῷ διαθήκη εἰρήνης προστατεῖν ἁγίων καὶ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ ἵνα αὐτῷ ᾖ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ ἱερωσύνης μεγαλεῖον εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας 31 καὶ διαθήκη τῷ Δαυιδ υἱῷ Ιεσσαι ἐκ φυλῆς Ιουδα κληρονομία βασιλέως υἱοῦ ἐξ υἱοῦ μόνου κληρονομία Ααρων καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ δῴη ὑμῖν σοφίαν ἐν καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν κρίνειν τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ ἵνα μὴ ἀφανισθῇ τὰ ἀγαθὰ αὐτῶν καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτῶν εἰς γενεὰς αὐτῶν 28 Next to these two, Phinees the son of Eleazar won high renown; like Aaron, with the fear of God to guide him, 29 he stood firm while the people shrank away; a loyal and a willing heart that made amends for Israel. 30 For his reward, he received assurance of the divine favour; command he should have of sanctuary and of people both, and the high priesthood that was his should descend to his heirs for ever. 31 David the son of Jesse, of Juda’s tribe, should bequeath to his children a legacy of kingship …

… with wise hearts endowing us, to preserve justice among his people, and keep safe the blessings he has given to it; and this pre-eminence over his people he has settled on them in perpetuity.[2]

28

Phinees, filius Eleazari, tertius in gloria est,
imitando eum in timore Domini,

29
et stare in reverentia gentis:
in bonitate et alacritate animæ suæ placuit Deo pro Israël. 30
Ideo statuit illi testamentum pacis,
principem sanctorum et gentis suæ,
ut sit illi et semini ejus sacerdotii dignitas in æternum. 31
Et testamentum David regi filio Jesse de tribu Juda,
hæreditas ipsi et semini ejus:
ut daret sapientiam in cor nostrum,
judicare gentem suam in justitia,
ne abolerentur bona ipsorum:
et gloriam ipsorum in gentem eorum æternam fecit.

[1] The Latin translator has probably missed the meaning of the original. It seems clear from the other versions that a reference is made here to the oracular burse described in Ex. 28.30.

[2] A comparison with the other versions confirms the impression, which the incoherence of the Latin would in any case suggest, that several words have been omitted. Both the Hebrew and the Greek indicate that King David was introduced into the narrative only by way of contrast; the sacred author is pointing out an analogy between the ecclesiastical and the secular government of Israel. In the Hebrew, the concluding words of the chapter form part of a doxology, which begins, ‘And now bless the Lord, that is so bountiful’.

Knox Translation Copyright © 2013 Westminster Diocese
Nihil Obstat. Father Anton Cowan, Censor.
Imprimatur. +Most Rev. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster. 8th January 2012.
Re-typeset and published in 2012 by Baronius Press Ltd