1 Simon the high priest the sonne of Onias, who in his life repaired the house againe, and in his dayes fortified the Temple:

2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortresse of the wall about the Temple.

3 In his dayes the cisterne to receiue water being in compasse as the sea, was couered with plates of brasse.

4 He tooke care of the Temple that it should not fall, and fortified the citie against besieging.

5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people, in his comming out of the Sanctuarie?

6 He was as the morning starre in the midst of a cloud: and as the moone at the full.

7 As the Sunne shining vpon the Temple of the most High, and as the rainebow giuing light in the bright cloudes.

8 And as the flowre of roses in the spring of the yeere, as lillies by the riuers of waters, and as the branches of the frankincense tree in the time of summer.

9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessell of beaten gold set with all maner of precious stones,

10 And as a faire oliue tree budding forth fruit, and as a Cypresse tree which groweth vp to the cloudes.

11 When he put on the robe of honour, and was clothed with the perfection of glory, when he went vp to the holy altar, he made the garment of holinesse honourable.

12 When he tooke the portions out of the priests hands, hee himselfe stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed with his brethren round about, as a yong cedar in Libanus, and as palme trees compassed they him round about.

13 So were all the sonnes of Aaron in their glory, and the oblations of the Lord in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.

14 And finishing the seruice at the altar, that he might adorne the offring of the most high Almighty,

15 He stretched out his hand to the cup, and powred of the blood of the grape, he powred out at the foote of the altar, a sweet smelling sauour vnto the most high King of all.

16 Then shouted the sonnes of Aaron, and sounded the siluer trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.

17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell downe to the earth vpon their faces to worship their Lord God almighty the most High.

18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweete melodie.

19 And the people besought the Lord the most High by prayer before him that is mercifull, till the solemnity of the Lord was ended, and they had finished his seruice.

20 Then he went downe, and lifted vp his hands ouer the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to giue the blessing of the Lord with his lips, and to reioyce in his name.

21 And they bowed themselues downe to worship the second time, that they might receiue a blessing from the most High.

22 Now therefore blesse yee the God of all, which onely doth wonderous things euery where, which exalteth our daies from the wombe, and dealeth with vs according to his mercy.

23 He grant vs ioyfulnesse of heart, and that peace may be in our daies in Israel for euer.

24 That hee would confirme his mercy with vs, and deliuer vs at his time.

25 There be two maner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation.

26 They that sit vpon the mountaine of Samaria, and they that dwell amongst the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

27 Iesus the sonne of Sirach of Hierusalem hath written in this booke, the instruction of vnderstanding and knowledge, who out of his heart powred forth wisedome.

28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things, and hee that layeth them vp in his heart, shall become wise.

29 For if he doe them, hee shall be strong to all things, for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giueth wisedome to the godly: blessed be the Lord for euer. Amen. Amen.