RV-CE

SIRACH 45

1And he brought out of him a man of mercy,

Which found favour in the sight of all flesh;

A man beloved of God and men, even Moses,

Whose memorial is blessed.

2He made him like to the glory of the saints,

And magnified him in the fears of his enemies.

3By his words he caused the wonders to cease;

He glorified him in the sight of kings;

He gave him commandment for his people,

And shewed him part of his glory.

4He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness;

He chose him out of all flesh.

5He made him to hear his voice,

And led him into the thick darkness,

And gave him commandments face to face,

Even the law of life and knowledge,

That he might teach Jacob the covenant,

And Israel his judgments.

6He exalted Aaron, a holy man like unto him,

Even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

7He established for him an everlasting covenant,

And gave him the priesthood of the people;

He beautified him with comely ornaments,

And girded him about with a robe of glory.

8He clothed him with the perfection of exultation;

And strengthened him with apparel of honour,

The linen breeches, the long robe, and the ephod.

9And he compassed him with pomegranates of gold,

And with many bells round about,

To send forth a sound as he went,

To make a sound that might be heard in the temple,

For a memorial to the children of his people;

10With a holy garment, with gold and blue and purple, the work of the embroiderer,

With an oracle of judgement, even with the Urim and Thummim;

11With twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman;

With precious stones graven like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller,

For a memorial engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel;

12With a crown of gold upon the mitre, having graven on it, as on a signet, HOLINESS,

An ornament of honour, a work of might,

The desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

13Before him there never have been any such;

No stranger put them on, but his sons only, and his offspring perpertually.

14His sacrifices shall be wholly consumed

Every day twice continually.

15Moses consecrated him,

And anointed him with holy oil:

It was unto him for an everlasting covenant,

And to his seed, all the days of heaven,

To minister unto him, and to execute also the priest’s office,

And bless his people in his name.

16He chose him out of all living

To offer sacrifice to the Lord,

Incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial,

To make reconciliation for thy people.

17He gave unto him in his commandments,

Yea, authority in the covenants of judgements,

To teach Jacob the testimonies,

And to enlighten Israel in his law.

18Strangers gathered themselves together against him,

And envied him in the wilderness,

Even Dathan and Abiram with their company,

And the congregation of Korah, with wrath and anger.

19The Lord saw it, and it displeased him;

And in the wrath of his anger they were destroyed:

He did wonders upon them,

To consume them with flaming fire.

20And he added glory to Aaron,

And gave him a heritage:

He divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase;

And first did he prepare bread in abundance:

21For they shall eat the sacrifices of the Lord,

Which he gave unto him and to his seed.

22Howbeit in the land of the people he shall have no inheritance,

And he hath no portion among the people:

For he himself is thy portion and inheritance.

23And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory,

In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord,

And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away,

And he made reconciliation for Israel.

24Therefore was there a covenant of peace established for him,

That he should be leader of the saints and of his people;

That he and his seed

Should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever.

25Also he made a covenant with David the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah;

The inheritance of the king is his alone from son to son;

So the inheritance of Aaron is also unto his seed.

26God give you wisdom in your heart

To judge his people in righteousness,

That their good things be not abolished,

And that their glory endure for all their generations.