1Greatest of his brothers and the glory of his people was Simon son of Johanan the priest, in whose generation the House was repaired, and in whose days the Temple was fortified.
2In his generation a reservoir was dug, a basin like the sea in its abundance.
3In his days the buttressed wall was built, a residence like a king’s palace.
4He cared for his people against plunder and fortified his city against the enemy.
5How glorious he was when he looked out from the Tent, and when he came out from the house of the veil!
6Like a star of light from between the clouds, and like the full moon on a festival day.
7Like the sun shining on the King’s temple, and like the bow seen in the clouds.
8Like a blossom on a branch in the festival days, like a lily by streams of water, like a flower of Lebanon in summer, and like the fire of frankincense on the grain offering.
9Like a vessel of engraved gold, studded and set with precious stones.
10Like a flourishing olive tree full of berries, and like an oil tree with well-watered branches.
11When he put on his glorious robes and clothed himself in splendid garments, when he went up to the majestic altar, he brought glory to the court of the sanctuary.
12When he received the portions from the hand of his brothers, while he stood by the woodpile on the altar, a crown of sons was around him, like cedar saplings in Lebanon. All the sons of Aaron in their glory surrounded him like willows of the brook.
13The offerings for Yahweh were in their hands, before the whole congregation of Israel.
14To finish serving at the altar and to arrange the offerings for the Most High.
15Then the sons of Aaron, the priests, sounded the trumpets of hammered silver.
16And they sounded the blast and made a mighty voice heard, as a memorial before the Most High.
17All the people together hurried and fell on their faces to the earth to worship before the Most High, before the Holy One of Israel.
18The song raised its voice, and over the multitude they made the melody sweet.
19And all the people of the land cried out in prayer before the Merciful One, until he finished serving at the altar and had completed its ordinances.
20Then he came down and raised his hands over the whole congregation of Israel, with the blessing of Yahweh on his lips, and he gloried in the name of Yahweh.
21And they bowed down a second time to receive a blessing from him.
22And now, bless Yahweh, the God of Israel, who does wonders in the land, who brings a person up from the womb and acts according to his will.
23May he give you wisdom of heart, and may there be peace among you.
24May his covenant-loyalty be firm with Simon, and may he establish for him the covenant of Phinehas, that it may not be cut off from him or his descendants, as long as the heavens endure.
25My soul is vexed with two nations, and the third is not even a people:
26the inhabitants of Seir and Philistia, and the foolish nation that lives in Shechem.
27Instruction of understanding and skillful proverbs, by Yeshua son of Eleazar son of Sira, who poured forth insight from his heart and gushed forth understanding.
28Blessed is the one who meditates on these things; whoever takes them to heart will become wise.
29For if he does them, he will be strong for all things, because the light of the Lord is his path.
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