1
גְּדוֹל אֶחָיו וְתִפְאֶרֶת עַמּוֹ, שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָנָן הַכֹּהֵן. אֲשֶׁר בְּדוֹרוֹ נִפְקַד הַבָּיִת, וּבְיָמָיו חֻזַּק הֵיכָל.
Great one of his brethren, and glory of his people, Was Simon, son of Johanan (H), the priest; In whose generation the house was repaired (?); And in whose days the temple was fortified.
Σίμων Ὀνίου υἱὸς ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, ὃς ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ ὑπέῤῥαψεν οἶκον, καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἐστερέωσε τὸν ναόν·
Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, Who in his life repaired the house again, And in his days fortified the temple:
2
אֲשֶׁר בְּדוֹרוֹ נִכְרָה מִקְוֶה, וְשִׂיחַ כַּיָּם בַּהֲמוֹנוֹ.
In whose generation a cistern was digged (H); A pit ( or store) like the sea (?) in its abundance.
καὶ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐθεμελιώθη ὕψος διπλῆς ἀνάλημμα ὑψηλὸν περιβόλου ἱεροῦ.
And by him was built from the foundation the double height, The high fortress of the wall about the temple:
3
אֲשֶׁר בְּיָמָיו נִבְנָה קִיר / פִּנּוֹת, מָעוֹן, כְּהֵיכַל מֶלֶךְ.
In whose days a wall was built; A bulwark of refuge (?) in the temple of the King.
Ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἠλαττώθη ἀποδοχεῖον ὑδάτων, χαλκὸς ὡσεὶ θαλάσσης τὸ περίμετρον·
In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:
4
הַדּוֹאֵג לְעַמּוֹ מֵחֶתֶף, וּמְחַזֵּק עִירוֹ מִצָּר.
Who took thought for his people against the spoiler; And fortified his city against the besieger.
ὁ φροντίζων τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πτώσεως, καὶ ἐνισχύσας πόλιν ἐμπολιορκῆσαι,
He took care of the temple that it should not fall, And fortified the city against besieging:
5
מַה נֶהְדַּר בְּהַשְׁגִּיחוֹ מֵאֹהֶל, וּבְצֵאתוֹ מִבֵּית הַפָּרֹכֶת.
How glorious was he when he looked forth from the tent; And when he went out from the house of the veil!
ὡς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν περιστροφῇ λαοῦ, ἐν ἐξόδῳ οἴκου καταπετάσματος·
How was he honored in the midst of the people In his coming out of the sanctuary!
6
כְּכוֹכָב אוֹר מִבֵּין עָבִים, וּכְיָרֵחַ מָלֵא בִּימֵי מוֹעֵד.
As the morning star from amid thick clouds; And as the full moon in the days of (?) the solemn feast.
ὡς ἀστὴρ ἑωθινὸς ἐν μέσῳ νεφέλης, ὡς σελήνη πλήρης ἐν ἡμέραις·
He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, And as the moon at the full:
7
כְּשֶׁמֶשׁ מְשַׁקֶּרֶת אֶל הֵיכַל הַמֶּלֶךְ, וּכְקֶשֶׁת נִרְאֲתָה בֶעָנָן.
And as the sun dawning upon (?) the temple of the King; And as rainbow seen in the cloud.
ὡς ἥλιος ἐκλάμπων ἐπὶ ναὸν ὑψίστου, καὶ ὡς τόξον φωτίζον ἐν νεφέλαις δόξης·
As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, And as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:
8
כְּנֵץ בַּעֲנָפוֹ בִּימֵי מוֹעֵד, וּכְשׁוֹשָׁן עַל יִבְלֵי מָיִם. כְּפֶרַח לְבָנוֹן בִּימֵי קָיִץ, וּכְאֵשׁ לְבוֹנָה עַל הַמִּנְחָה.
As budding branch (?) in the days of the solemn feast; And as the lotus by the watercourses. As flower of Lebanon in the days of summer; And as fire of incense upon the meal-offering:
ὡς ἄνθος ῥόδων ἐν ἡμέραις νέων, ὡς κρίνα ἐπʼ ἐξόδων ὕδατος· ὡς βλαστὸς Λιβάνου ἐν ἡμέραις θέρους,
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:
9
כִּכְלִי זָהָב מְפֻתָּח וְאַנְטִיל, הַנֶּאֱחָז עַל אַבְנֵי חֵפֶץ.
In ( or As) a gold plated vessel, and a chalice ( or weighty), That is set with pleasant stones.
ὡς πῦρ καὶ λίβανος ἐπὶ πυρείου· ὡς σκεῦος χρυσίου ὁλοσφύρητον κεκοσμημένον παντὶ λίθῳ πολυτελεῖ·
As fire and incense in the censer, And as a vessel of beaten gold Set with all manner of precious stones:
10
כְּזַיִת רַעֲנָן מָלֵא גַרְגַּר, וּכְעֵץ שָׁמֵן מְרַוֶּה עָנָף.
As a green olive full of berries; And as a wild olive tree with branches full of sap.
ὡς ἐλαία ἀναθάλλουσα καρποὺς, καὶ ὡς κυπάρισσος ὑψουμένη ἐν νεφέλαις.
And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, And as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.
11
בַּעֲטוֹתוֹ בִּגְדֵי כָבוֹד, וְהִתְלַבְּשׁוֹ בִּגְדֵי תִפְאָרֶת. בַּעֲלוֹתוֹ עַל מִזְבַּח הוֹד, וַיֶּהְדַּר עֲזֶרֶת מִקְדָּשׁ.
When he put on robes of honour; And clothed himself with robes of beauty. When he ascended the altar of majesty; And made glorious the precinct of the sanctuary.
Ἐν τῷ ἀναλαμβάνειν αὐτὸν στολὴν δόξης, καὶ ἐνδιδύσκεσθαι αὐτὸν συντέλειαν καυχήματος, ἐν ἀναβάσει θυσιαστηρίου ἁγίου ἐδόξασε περιβολὴν ἁγιάσματος.
When he put on the robe of honor, And was clothed with the perfection of glory, When he went up to the holy altar, He made the garment of holiness honorable.
12
בְּקַבְּלוֹ נְתָחִים מִיַּד אֶחָיו, וְהוּא נִצָּב עַל מַעֲרָכוֹת. סָבִיב לוֹ עֲטֶרֶת בָּנִים, כִּשְׁתִילֵי אֲרָזִים בַּלְּבָנוֹן. וַיַּקִּיפוּהוּ בְּעַרְבֵי נָחַל, כָּל-בְּנֵי אֲהַרֹן בִּכְבוֹדָם.
When he received the pieces out of the hand of his brethren; While himself standing by the altar-fires: Round him a crown of sons, Like cedar plants in Lebanon. And they compassed him about like willows of the brook: All the sons of Aaron in their glory:
Ἐν δὲ τῷ δέχεσθαι μέλη ἐκ χειρῶν ἱερέων, καὶ αὐτὸς ἑστὼς παρʼ ἐσχάρᾳ βωμοῦ, κυκλόθεν αὐτοῦ στέφανος ἀδελφῶν, ὡς βλάστημα κέδρου ἐν τῶ λιβάνῳ· καὶ ἐκύκλωσαν αὐτὸν ὡς στελέχη φοινίκων,
When he took the portions out of the priests’ hands, He himself stood by the hearth of the altar, Compassed with his brethren round about, As a young cedar in Lebanon; And as palm trees compassed they him round about.
13
וְאִשֵּׁי יְהֹוָה בְּיָדָם, נֶגֶד כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
With the fire-offerings of the Lord in their hand, Before all the congregation of Israel.
καὶ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ἀαρὼν ἐν δόξῃ αὐτῶν· καὶ προσφορὰ Κυρίου ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν ἔναντι πάσης ἐκκλησίας Ἰσραήλ.
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.
14
עַד כַּלּוֹתוֹ לְשָׁרֵת מִזְבֵּחַ, וּלְסַדֵּר מַעַרְכוֹת עֶלְיוֹן.
Until he finished serving the altar, And arranging the fires of the Most High.
Καὶ συντέλειαν λειτουργῶν ἐπὶ βωμῶν, κοσμῆσαι προσφορὰν ὑψίστου παντοκράτορος,
And finishing the service at the altar, That he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,
15
ἐξέτεινεν ἐπὶ σπονδείου χεῖρα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔσπεισεν ἐξ αἵματος σταφυλῆς· ἐξέχεεν εἰς θεμέλια θυσιαστηρίου ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας ὑψίστῷ παμβασιλεῖ.
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 sweet-smelling savor unto the most high King of all.
16
אָז יָרִיעוּ בְנֵי אֲהַרֹן / הַכֹּהֲנִים, בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת מִקְשֶׁה. וַיָּרִיעוּ וַיַּשְׁמִיעוּ קוֹל אַדִּיר, לְהַזְכִּיר לִפְנֵי עֶלְיוֹן.
Then sounded the sons of Aaron, the priests, With trumpets of turnery. And they sounded, and made their glorious voice heard; To bring to remembrance (?) before the Most High.
Τότε ἀνέκραγον υἱοὶ Ἀαρὼν, ἐν σάλπιγξιν ἐλαταῖς ἤχησαν· ἀκουστὴν ἐποίησαν φωνὴν μεγάλην εἰς μνημόσυνον ἔναντι ὑψίστου.
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.
17
כָּל בָּשָׂר יַחְדָּו נִמְהָרוּ, וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם אָרְצָה. לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לִפְנֵי עֶלְיוֹן, לִפְנֵי קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל.
All flesh together hasted, And fell down upon their faces to the earth: To worship before the Most High; Before the Holy One of Israel.
Τότε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς κοινῇ κατέσπευσε, καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, προσκυνῆσαι τῷ Κυρίῳ αὐτῶν παντοκράτορι Θεῷ τῷ ὑψίστῳ.
Then all the people together hastened, And fell down to the earth upon their faces To worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.
18
וַיִּתֵּן הַשִּׁיר קוֹלוֹ, וְעַל הֲמּוֹן הֶעֱרִיכוּ נֵרוֹ.
And the choir uttered its voice; And over the multitude they made sweet melody (?).
Καὶ ᾔνεσαν οἱ ψαλμῳδοὶ ἐν φωναῖς αὐτῶν, ἐν πλείστῳ οἴκῳ ἐγλυκάνθη μέλος.
The singers also sang praises with their voices, With great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.
19
וַיָּרֹנּוּ כָּל עַם הָאָרֶץ, בִּתְפִלָּה לִפְנֵי רַחוּם. עַד כַּלּוֹתוֹ לְשָׁרֵת מִזְבֵּחַ, וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו הִגִּיעַ אֵלָיו.
And all the people of the land chanted, In prayer before the Merciful. Until he finished serving the altar; And had brought its customary offerings unto it.
Καὶ ἐδεήθη ὁ λαὸς Κυρίου ὑψίστου ἐν προσευχῇ κατέναντι ἐλεήμονος, ἕως συντελεσθῇ κόσμος Κυρίου, καὶ τὴν λειτουργίαν αὐτοῦ ἐτελείωσαν.
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.
20
אָז יָרַד וְנָשָׂא יָדָיו, עַל כָּל קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וּבִרְכַּת יְהֹוָה בִּשְׂפָתָיו, וּבְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה הִתְפָּאֵר.
Then he came down, and lifted up his hands Over all the congregation of Israel. And the blessing of the Lord was on his lips; And in the name of the Lord he gloried.
Τότε καταβὰς ἐπῇρε χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἐκκλησίαν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, δοῦναι εὐλογίαν Κυρίῳ ἐν χειλέων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ καυχᾶσθαι.
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.
21
וַיִּשְׁנוּ לִנְפּוֹל שֵׁנִית, בְּרָכוֹת לָקַחַת מִפָּנָיו.
And they bowed down again a second time, The people all of them, before him.
Καὶ ἐδευτέρωσεν ἐν προσκυνήσει ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν εὐλογίαν παρὰ ὑψίστου.
And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, That they might receive a blessing from the most High.
22
עַתָּה בָּרְכוּ נָא, אֶת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. הַמַּפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּאָרֶץ, הַמְגַדֵּל אָדָם מֵרֶחֶם וַיַּעֲשֵׂהוּ בִּרְצוֹנוֹ.
Now bless ye the Lord, the God of Israel, Which doeth wonderously in the land. That bringeth up man from the womb; And maketh him according to his will.
Καὶ νῦν εὐλογήσατε τῷ Θεῷ πάντες τῷ μεγαλοποιοῦντι πάντη, τὸν ὑψοῦντα ἡμέρας ἡμῶν ἐκ μήτρας, καὶ ποιοῦντα μεθʼ ἡμῶν κατὰ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.
Now therefore bless ye the God of all, Which only doeth wondrous things everywhere, Which exalteth our days from the womb, And dealeth with us according to his mercy.
23
יִתֵּן לָכֶם חָכְמַת לֵבָב, וִיהִי שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיכֶם.
May he give you wisdom of heart; And may there be (?) peace among you.
Δῴη ἡμῖν εὐφροσύνην καρδίας, καὶ γενέσθαι εἰρήνην ἐν ἡμέραις ἡμῶν ἐν Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ αἰῶνος,
He grant us joyfulness of heart, And that peace may be in our days in Israel forever:
24
יֵאָמֵן עִם שִׁמְעוֹן חַסְדּוֹ, וְיָקֶם לוֹ בְּרִית פִּינְחָס. אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִכָּרֵת לוֹ, וּלְזַרְעוֹ כִּימֵי שָׁמָיִם.
May his mercy stand fast with Simon; And may he confirm to him the covenant of Phinehas, Which he executed (?) unto him and unto his seed, As the days of heaven.
ἐμπιστεῦσαι μεθʼ ἡμῶν τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ λυτρωσάσθω ἡμᾶς.
That he would confirm his mercy with us, And deliver us at his time!
25
בִּשְׁנֵי גוֹיִם קָצָה נַפְשִׁי, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית אִינֶנּוּ עָם.
Two nations my soul abhorreth; And the third is no people:
Ἐν δυσὶν ἔθνεσι προσώχθισεν ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ τὸ τρίτον οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθνος.
There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, And the third is no nation:
26
יוֹשְׁבֵי שֵׂעִיר וּפְלֶשֶׁת, וְגוֹי נָבָל הַדָּר בִּשְׁכֶם.
The inhabitants of Seir and Philistia; And the foolish nation that dwelleth in Sichem.
Οἱ καθήμενοι ἐν ὄρει Σαμαρείας, Φυλιστιεὶμ καὶ ὁ λαὸς μωρὸς ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν Σικίμοις.
They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, And they that dwell among the Philistines, And that foolish people that dwell in Shechem.
27
מוּסַר שֵׂכֶל וּמוֹשֵׁל אוֹפַנִּים, לְשִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יֵשׁוּעַ, בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן סִירָא. אֲשֶׁר נִיבַּע בִּפְתוֹר לְבָן, וַאֲשֶׁר הִבִּיעַ בִּתְבוּנוֹת.
The instruction of understanding and proverbs fitly spoken (?) Of Simon, son of Jesus, son of Eleazar, son of Sira. Whose heart prophesied as with a harp (?); And who poured forth understanding.
Παιδείαν συνέσεως καὶ ἐπιστήμης ἐχάραξε ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ, τούτῳ, Ἰησοῦς υἱὸς Σειρὰχ Ἱεροσολυμίτης, ὃς ἀνώμβρησε σοφίαν ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτοῦ.
Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem Hath written in this book the instruction Of understanding and knowledge, Who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
28
אַשְׁרֵי אִישׁ בְּאֵלֶּה יֶהְגֶּה, וְנוֹתֵן עַל לִבּוֹ יֶחְכָּם.
Happy is the man that meditateth on these; And he that layeth them to his heart shall be wise. For the fear of the Lord is life.
Μακάριος ὃς ἐν τούτοις ἀναστραφήσεται, καὶ ὁ θεὶς αὐτὰ ἐπὶ καρδίαν αὐτοῦ σοφισθήσεται.
Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things: And he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.
29
Ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὰ ποιήσῃ, πρὸς πάντα ἰσχύσει, ὅτι φῶς Κυρίου τὸ ἴχνος αὐτοῦ. ΠΡΟΣΕΥΧΗ ἸΗΣΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ ΣΕΙΡΑΧ.
For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: For the light of the Lord is his path.