Sefarim
Ben Sira49
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 49
The remembrance of Josias is like the composition of the perfume that is made by the art of the apothecary: it is sweet as honey in all mouths, and as musick at a banquet of wine.
He behaved himself uprightly in the conversion of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity.
He directed his heart unto the master, and in the time of the ungodly he established the worship of Elohim.
All, except Dawid and Ezekias and Josias, were defective: for they forsook the torah of the most High, even the kings of Juda failed.
Therefore he gave their power unto others, and their glory to a strange nation.
They burnt the chosen city of the sanctuary, and made the streets desolate, according to the prophecy of Jeremias.
For they entreated him evil, who nevertheless was a navi, sanctified in his mother’s womb, that he might root out, and afflict, and destroy; and that he might build up also, and plant.
It was Yechezqe'l who saw the glorious vision, which was shewed him upon the chariot of the cherubims.
For he made mention of the enemies under the figure of the rain, and directed them that went right.
And of the twelve nevi'im let the memorial be blessed, and let their bones flourish again out of their place: for they comforted Ya'aqov, and delivered them by assured hope.
How shall we magnify Zorobabel? even he was as a signet on the right hand:
So was Jesus the son of Josedec: who in their time builded the house, and set up an holy heikhal to the master, which was prepared for everlasting glory.
And among the elect was Neemias, whose renown is great, who raised up for us the walls that were fallen, and set up the gates and the bars, and raised up our ruins again.
But upon the earth was no man created like Enoch; for he was taken from the earth.
Neither was there a young man born like Yoseph, a governor of his brethren, a stay of the people, whose bones were regarded of the master.
Sem and Seth were in great honour among men, and so was Adam above every living thing in creation.
Sefarim
Ben Sira50
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 50
Simon the high kohen, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the heikhal:
And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the heikhal:
In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:
He took care of the heikhal that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:
How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!
He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:
As the sun shining upon the heikhal of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:
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:
As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:
And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.
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.
When he took the portions out of the kohanim’ hands, he himself stood by the hearth of the altar, compassed about, as a young cedar in Libanus; and as palm trees compassed they him round about.
So were all the sons of Aharon in their glory, and the oblations of the master in their hands, before all the congregation of Yisra'el.
And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,
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.
Then shouted the sons of Aharon, and sounded the silver trumpets, and made a great noise to be heard, for a remembrance before the most High.
Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their master Elohim Almighty, the most High.
The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.
And the people besought the master, the most High, by prayer before him that is merciful, till the solemnity of the master was ended, and they had finished his service.
Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Yisra'el, to give the blessing of the master with his lips, and to rejoice in his name.
And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.
Now therefore bless ye the Elohim of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.
He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Yisra'el for ever:
That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!
There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:
They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.
Jesus the son of Sirach of Yerushalayim hath written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.
For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the master leadeth him, who giveth wisdom to the godly. Blessed be the name of the master for ever. Amen, Amen.
A Prayer of Jesus the son of Sirach.
Sefarim
Ben Sira51
Sirach / Ecclesiasticus · Chapter 51
I will thank thee, O master and King, and praise thee, O Elohim my Saviour: I do give praise unto thy name:
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:
And hast delivered me, according to the multitude 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;
From the choking of fire on every side, and from the midst of the fire which I kindled not;
From the depth of the belly of hell, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words.
By an accusation to the king from an unrighteous tongue my nephesh drew near even unto death, my life was near to the hell beneath.
They compassed me on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked for the succour of men, but there was none.
Then thought I upon thy mercy, O master, and upon thy acts of old, how thou deliverest such as wait for thee, and savest them out of the hands of the enemies.
Then lifted I up my supplications from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death.
I called upon the master, the Father of my master, that he would not leave me in the days of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, when there was no help.
I will praise thy name continually, and will sing praises with thanksgiving; and so my prayer was heard:
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 master.
When I was yet young, or ever I went abroad, I desired wisdom openly in my prayer.
I prayed for her before the heikhal, and will seek her out even to the end.
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.
I bowed down mine ear a little, and received her, and gat much learning.
I profited therein, therefore will I ascribe glory unto him that giveth me wisdom.
For I purposed to do after her, and earnestly I followed that which is good; so shall I not be confounded.
My nephesh hath wrestled with her, and in my doings I was exact: I stretched forth my hands to the shamayim above, and bewailed my ignorances of her.
I directed my nephesh unto her, and I found her in pureness: I have had my heart joined with her from the beginning, therefore shall I not be foresaken.
My heart was troubled in seeking her: therefore have I gotten a good possession.
The master hath given me a tongue for my reward, and I will praise him therewith.
Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.
Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty?
I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money.
Put your neck under the yoke, and let your nephesh receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find.
Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.
Get learning with a great sum of money, and get much gold by her.
Let your nephesh rejoice in his mercy, and be not ashamed of his praise.
Work your work betimes, and in his time he will give you your reward.