Sirach 45

1From his descendants the Lorda brought forth a man of mercy,

who found favor in the sight of all flesh

and was beloved by God and man,

Moses, whose memory is blessed.

2He made him equal in glory to the holy ones,

and made him great in the fears of his enemies.

3By his words he caused signs to cease;

the Lordb glorified him in the presence of kings.

He gave him commands for his people,

and showed him part of his glory.

4He sanctified him through faithfulness and meekness;

he chose him out of all mankind.

5He made him hear his voice,

and led him into the thick darkness,

and gave him the commandments face to face,

the law of life and knowledge,

to teach Jacob the covenant,

and Israel his judgments.

6He exalted Aaron, the brother of Moses,c

a holy man like him, of the tribe of Levi.

7He made an everlasting covenant with him,

and gave him the priesthood of the people.

He blessed him with splendid vestments,

and put a glorious robe upon him.

8He clothed him with superb perfection,

and strengthened him with the symbols of authority,

the linen breeches, the long robe, and the ephod.

9And he encircled him with pomegranates,

with very many golden bells round about,

to send forth a sound as he walked,

to make their ringing heard in the temple

as a reminder to the sons of his people;

10with a holy garment, of gold and blue

and purple, the work of an embroiderer;

with the oracle of judgment, Urim and Thummim;

11with twisted scarlet, the work of a craftsman;

with precious stones engraved like signets,

in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweler,

for a reminder, in engraved letters,

according to the number of the tribes of Israel;

12with a gold crown upon his turban,

inscribed like a signet with "Holiness,"

a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert,

the delight of the eyes, richly adorned.

13Before his time there never were such beautiful things.

No outsider ever put them on,

but only his sons

and his descendants perpetually.

14His sacrifices shall be wholly burned

twice every day continually.

15Moses ordained him,

and anointed him with holy oil;

it was an everlasting covenant for him

and for his descendants all the days of heaven,

to minister to the Lordd and serve as priest

and bless his people in his name.

16He chose him out of all the living

to offer sacrifice to the Lord,

incense and a pleasing odor as a memorial portion,

to make atonement for the people.e

17In his commandments he gave him

authority and statutes andf judgments,

to teach Jacob the testimonies,

and to enlighten Israel with his law.

18Outsiders conspired against him,

and envied him in the wilderness,

Dathan and Abi'ram and their men

and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger.

19The Lord saw it and was not pleased,

and in the wrath of his anger they were destroyed;

he wrought wonders against them

to consume them in flaming fire.

20He added glory to Aaron

and gave him a heritage;

he allotted to him the first of the first fruits,

he prepared bread of first fruits in abundance;

21for they eat the sacrifices to the Lord,

which he gave to him and his descendants.

22But in the land of the people he has no inheritance,

and he has no portion among the people;

for the Lordg himself is hish portion and inheritance.

23Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar is the third in glory,

for he was zealous in the fear of the Lord,

and stood fast, when the people turned away,

in the ready goodness of his soul,

and made atonement for Israel.

24Therefore a covenant of peace was established with him,

that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people,

that he and his descendants should have

the dignity of the priesthood for ever.

25A covenant was also established with David,

the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah:

the heritage of the king is from son to son only;

so the heritage of Aaron is for his descendants.

26May the Lordi grant you wisdom in your heart

to judge his people in righteousness,

so that their prosperity may not vanish,

and that their glory may endure throughout their generations.j