Deuterocanonical Books of the Bible Part 106

Sir 49:16 Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.

Sir 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:

Sir 50:2 And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:

Sir 50:3 In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compa.s.s as the sea, was covered with plates of bra.s.s:

Sir 50:4 He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:

Sir 50:5 How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!

Sir 50:6 He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:

Sir 50:7 As the sun s.h.i.+ning upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:

Sir 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:

Sir 50:9 As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:

Sir 50:10 And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.

Sir 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.

Sir 50:12 When he took the portions out of the priests' hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compa.s.sed about, as a young cedar in Liba.n.u.s; and as palm trees compa.s.sed they him round about.

Sir 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.

Sir 50:14 And finis.h.i.+ng the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,

Sir 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.

Sir 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.

Sir 50:17 Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to wors.h.i.+p their Lord G.o.d Almighty, the most High.

Sir 50:18 The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.

Sir 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.

Sir 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.

Sir 50:21 And they bowed themselves down to wors.h.i.+p the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.

Sir 50:22 Now therefore bless ye the G.o.d of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.

Sir 50:23 He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:

Sir 50:24 That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!

Sir 50:25 There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:

Sir 50:26 They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.

Sir 50:27 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.

Sir 50:28 Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.

Sir 50:29 For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the G.o.dly.

Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. Amen, Amen.

[A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.]

Sir 51:1 I will thank thee, O Lord and King, and praise thee, O G.o.d my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:

Sir 51:2 For thou art my defender and helper, and has preserved my body from destruction, and from the snare of the slanderous tongue, and from the lips that forge lies, and has been mine helper against mine adversaries:

Sir 51:3 And hast delivered me, according to the mult.i.tude of they mercies and greatness of thy name, from the teeth of them that were ready to devour me, and out of the hands of such as sought after my life, and from the manifold afflictions which I had;

Sir 51:4 From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;

Sir 51:5 From the depth of the belly of h.e.l.l, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.

Sir 51:6 By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my soul drew near even unto death, my life was near to the h.e.l.l beneath.

Sir 51:7 They compa.s.sed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.

Sir 51:8 Then thought I upon thy mercy, O Lord, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.

Sir 51:9 Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.

Sir 51:10 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.

Sir 51:11 I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:

Sir 51:12 For thou savedst me from destruction, and deliveredst me from the evil time: therefore will I give thanks, and praise thee, and bless they name, O Lord.

Sir 51:13 When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.

Sir 51:14 I prayed for her before the temple, and will seek her out even to the end.

Sir 51:15 Even from the flower till the grape was ripe hath my heart delighted in her: my foot went the right way, from my youth up sought I after her.

Sir 51:16 I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.

Sir 51:17 I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.

Sir 51:18 For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.

Sir 51:19 My soul hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the heaven above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.