The Koine Bible

Simon, son of Onias, the great priest, who in his life repaired the house and in his days strengthened the temple.

and under him was built the height of a double elevation, a high rampart of the holy enclosure

In his days the reservoir for waters was hewn, a pit like the sea in its circumference

the one caring for his people from falling and strengthening a city in siege

how he was glorified among the turning of the people in the going out of the house of the veil

as the morning star in the midst of clouds, as the full moon in days

Like the sun shining forth upon the temple of the Most High, and like a bow shining in clouds of glory

like a rose flower in days of youth, like lilies on the exit of water, like a shoot of Lebanon in days of summer

like fire and incense upon an altar, like a vessel of gold, entirely hammered, adorned with every precious stone

like an olive tree budding forth fruit and like a cypress rising high in the clouds

in his taking up a robe of glory and in his clothing himself with the perfection of boasting, in the ascent of the holy altar he glorified the garment of sanctification

And when receiving portions from the hands of priests, and he himself standing by the hearth of the altar, around him a crown of brothers, like a sprout of cedars in Lebanon, and they surrounded him like trunks of palm trees

and all the sons of Aaron in their glory and a offering of the Lord in their hands before all the assembly of Israel

and the completion of ministers on altars to adorn the offering of the Most High Almighty

He stretched out his hand upon the libation bowl and poured out from the blood of the grape; he poured it out at the foundations of the altar, a smell of sweet fragrance to the Most High, all-sovereign King

Then the sons of Aaron cried out with long trumpets; they sounded a loud noise, they made a great voice, for a memorial before the Most High.

Then all the people together hastened and fell on their face to the ground to worship the Lord their Almighty God Most High

And the singers praised with their voices, with very great sound the melody was sweetened

And the people prayed to the Lord Most High in prayer before the merciful one, until the adornment of the Lord was completed, and they finished his service

Then, having gone down, he lifted up his hands over all the assembly of the sons of Israel, to give the blessing of the Lord from his lips and to boast in his name

And they gave a second act of homage to receive the blessing from the Most High

And now bless the God of all, the one doing great things everywhere, the one exalting our days from the womb, and doing with us according to his mercy

May he give us gladness of heart and may there be peace in our days in Israel according to the days of old.

May he entrust his mercy with us, and in our days let him redeem us

In two nations my soul was grieved, and the third is not a nation

those who sit on the mountain of Samaria and of Philistia, and the foolish people who dwell in Shechem

The instruction of understanding and knowledge Jesus son of Sirach, Eleazar the Jerusalemite, engraved in this book, who rained down wisdom from his heart

Blessed is he who will dwell among these things, and placing them upon his heart he will be made wise.

For if he does these things, he will prevail in all, because the light of the Lord is his step.