The Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) [The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
48:24 He saw by an excellent spirit what should come to pass at the last, and he comforted them that mourned in Sion.
48:25 He shewed what should come to pass for ever, and secret things or ever they came.
49:1 The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.
49:2 He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.
49:3 He directed his heart unto the Lord, and in the time of the ungodly he established the worship of God.
49:4 All, except David and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the law of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.
49:5 Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a strange nation.
49:6 They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.
49:7 For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a prophet, sanctified in his mother’s womb, that he might root out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.
49:8 It was Ezekiel who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims.
49:9 For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the rain, and directed them that went right.
49:10 And of the twelve prophets let the memorial be blessed, and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Jacob, and delivered them by assured hope.
49:11 How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:
49:12 So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy temple to the Lord, which was prepared for everlasting glory.
49:13 And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.
49:14 But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth.
49:15 Neither was there a young man born like Joseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the Lord.
49:16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.
50:1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:
50:2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:
50:3 In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:
50:4 He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:
50:5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!
50:6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:
50:7 As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:
50:8 And as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, as lilies by the rivers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer:
50:9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:
50:10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.
50:11 When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went up to the holy altar, he made the garment of holiness honourable.
50:12 When he took the portions out of the priests’ hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.
50:13 So were all the sons of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.
50:14 And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,
50:15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and poured of the blood of the grape, he poured out at the foot of the altar a sweetsmelling savour unto the most high King of all.
50:16 Then shouted the sons of Aaron, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.
50:17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.
50:18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.
50:19 And the people besought the Lord, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his service.
50:20 Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.
50:21 And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.
50:22 Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.