Sirach Chapter 50

English (Douay-Rheims)

1 Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life propped up the house, and in his days fortified the temple.
2 By him also the height of the temple was founded, the double building and the high walls of the temple.
3 In his days the wells of water flowed out, and they were filled as the sea above measure.
4 He took care of his nation, and delivered it from destruction.
5 He prevailed to enlarge the city, and obtained glory in his conversation with the people: and enlarged the entrance of the house and the court.
6 He shone in his days as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full.
7 And as the sun when it shineth, so did he shine in the temple of God.
8 And as the rainbow giving light in bright clouds, and as the flower of roses in the days of the spring, and as the lilies that are on the brink of the water, and as the sweet smelling frankincense in the time of summer.
9 As a bright fire, and frankincense burning in the fire.
10 As a massy vessel of gold, adorned with every precious stone.
11 As an olive tree budding forth, and a cypress tree rearing itself on high, when he put on the robe of glory, and was clothed with the perfection of power. Clothed with the perfection of power... That is, with all the vestments denoting his dignity and authority.
12 When he went up to the holy altar, he honoured the vesture of holiness.
13 And when he took the portions out of the hands of the priests, he himself stood by the altar. And about him was the ring of his brethren: and as the cedar planted in mount Libanus,
14 And as branches of palm trees, they stood round about him, and all the sons of Aaron in their glory.
15 And the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel: and finishing his service, on the altar, to honour the offering of the most high King,
16 He stretched forth his hand to make a libation, and offered of the blood of the grape.
17 He poured out at the foot of the altar a divine odour to the most high Prince.
18 Then the sons of Aaron shouted, they sounded with beaten trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard for a remembrance before God.
19 Then all the people together made haste, and fell down to the earth upon their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to pray to the Almighty God the most High.
20 And the singers lifted up their voices, and in the great house the sound of sweet melody was increased.
21 And the people in prayer besought the Lord the most High, until the worship of the Lord was perfected, and they had finished their office.
22 Then coming down, he lifted up his hands over all the congregation of the children of Israel, to give glory to God with his lips, and to glory in his name:
23 And he repeated his prayer, willing to show the power of God.
24 And now pray ye to the God of all, who hath done great things in all the earth, who hath increased our days from our mother's womb, and hath done with us according to his mercy.
25 May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that there be peace in our days in Israel for ever:
26 That Israel may believe that the mercy of God is with us, to deliver us in his days.

27 There are two nations which my soul abhorreth: and the third is no nation: which I hate: Abhorreth... Viz., with a holy indignation, as enemies of God and persecutors of his people. Such were then the Edomites who abode in mount Seir, the Philistines, and the Samaritans who dwelt in Sichem, and had their schismatical temple in that neighbourhood.
28 They that sit on mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

29 Jesus the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, hath written in this book the doctrine of wisdom and instruction, who renewed wisdom from his heart.
30 Blessed is he that is conversant in these good things and he that layeth them up in his heart, shall be wise always.
31 For if he do them, he shall be strong to do all things: because the light of God guideth his steps.

Old Testament first published 1609 by the English College at Douay
New Testament first published 1582 by the English College at Rheims
Revised and Annotated 1749 by Bishop Richard Challoner
Imprimatur. +James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, September 1, 1899

Latin (Clementine Vulgate)

1 Simon, Oniæ filius, sacerdos magnus,
qui in vita sua suffulsit domum,
et in diebus suis corroboravit templum.
2 Templi etiam altitudo ab ipso fundata est,
duplex ædificatio, et excelsi parietes templi.
3 In diebus ipsius emanaverunt putei aquarum,
et quasi mare adimpleti sunt supra modum.
4 Qui curavit gentem suam,
et liberavit eam a perditione:
5 qui prævaluit amplificare civitatem,
qui adeptus est gloriam in conversatione gentis,
et ingressum domus et atrii amplificavit.
6 Quasi stella matutina in medio nebulæ,
et quasi luna plena, in diebus suis lucet:
7 et quasi sol refulgens,
sic ille effulsit in templo Dei.
8 Quasi arcus refulgens inter nebulas gloriæ,
et quasi flos rosarum in diebus vernis,
et quasi lilia quæ sunt in transitu aquæ,
et quasi thus redolens in diebus æstatis:
9 quasi ignis effulgens,
et thus ardens in igne:
10 quasi vas auri solidum,
ornatum omni lapide pretioso:
11 quasi oliva pullulans, et cypressus in altitudinem se extollens,
in accipiendo ipsum stolam gloriæ,
et vestiri eum in consummationem virtutis.
12 In ascensu altaris sancti
gloriam dedit sanctitatis amictum.
13 In accipiendo autem partes de manu sacerdotum,
et ipse stans juxta aram:
et circa illum corona fratrum:
quasi plantatio cedri in monte Libano,
14 sic circa illum steterunt quasi rami palmæ:
et omnes filii Aaron in gloria sua.
15 Oblatio autem Domini in manibus ipsorum
coram omni synagoga Israël:
et consummatione fungens in ara,
amplificare oblationem excelsi Regis,
16 porrexit manum suam in libatione,
et libavit de sanguine uvæ.
17 Effudit in fundamento altaris
odorem divinum excelso Principi.
18 Tunc exclamaverunt filii Aaron,
in tubis productilibus sonuerunt:
et auditam fecerunt vocem magnam in memoriam coram Deo.
19 Tunc omnis populus simul properaverunt,
et ceciderunt in faciem super terram,
adorare Dominum Deum suum,
et dare preces omnipotenti Deo excelso.
20 Et amplificaverunt psallentes in vocibus suis,
et in magna domo auctus est sonus suavitatis plenus.
21 Et rogavit populus Dominum excelsum in prece,
usque dum perfectus est honor Domini,
et munus suum perfecerunt.
22 Tunc descendens, manus suas extulit
in omne congregationem filiorum Israël,
dare gloriam Deo a labiis suis,
et in nomine ipsius gloriari:
23 et iteravit orationem suam,
volens ostendere virtutem Dei.
24 Et nunc orate Deum omnium, qui magna fecit in omni terra,
qui auxit dies nostros a ventre matris nostræ,
et fecit nobiscum secundum suam misericordiam:
25 det nobis jucunditatem cordis,
et fieri pacem in diebus nostris in Israël per dies sempiternos:
26 credere Israël nobiscum esse Dei misericordiam,
ut liberet nos in diebus suis.

27 Duas gentes odit anima mea:
tertia autem non est gens quam oderim:
28 qui sedent in monte Seir, et Philisthiim,
et stultus populus qui habitat in Sichimis.

29 Doctrinam sapientiæ et disciplinæ scripsit in codice isto
Jesus, filius Sirach, Jerosolymita,
qui renovavit sapientiam de corde suo.
30 Beatus qui in istis versatur bonis:
qui ponit illa in corde suo, sapiens erit semper.
31 Si enim hæc fecerit, ad omnia valebit, quia lux Dei vestigium ejus est.

Transcribed as part of the Clementine Vulgate Project
Please notify the original transcriber (little.mouth@soon.com) of any errors in this Latin edition

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