1 Simon, the high priest, son of Onias: in his life, he propped up the house, and in his days, he strengthened the temple.
2 Even the height of the temple was established by him: the double building and the high walls of the temple.
3 In his days, waters flowed out from the wells, and these were full beyond measure, like the sea.
4 He cared for his nation, and he freed it from perdition.
5 He prevailed, so as to enlarge the city. And he obtained glory by his behavior among the people. And he enlarged the entrance of the house and of the atrium.
6 He shined in his days like the morning star through the midst of a cloud, and like the full moon.
7 And he shined forth in the temple of God in this manner: like the sun when it shines brightly,
8 and like a rainbow shining amid clouds of glory, and like flowering roses in the days of spring, and like lilies along the water’s edge, and like sweet smelling frankincense in the days of summer,
9 like a fire shining brightly, and like frankincense burning within a fire,
10 like a vessel of solid gold, adorned with every precious stone,
11 like an olive tree producing buds, and like a cypress tree lifting itself on high, when he received the robe of glory and was vested with the consummation of virtue.
12 He gave glory to the vestment of sanctity, when he ascended to the holy altar.
13 Then, when he received the portions from the hands of the priests, he himself stood next to the altar. And around him was the crown of his brethren, like a cedar planted on a mountain of Lebanon.
14 And they stood around him like palm branches, and all were sons of Aaron in their glory.
15 Then the oblation of the Lord was in their hands, in the sight of the entire synagogue of Israel. And completing his service at the altar, so as to magnify the offering to the Most High King,
16 he extended his hand to make a libation, and he offered from the blood of the grape.
17 At the base of the altar, he poured out a divine fragrance to the Most High Prince.
18 Then the sons of Aaron shouted; they sounded finely-made trumpets, and they made a great noise, as a memorial in the sight of God.
19 Then all the people at once hurried forward, and they fell to the ground on their faces, to adore the Lord their God, and to offer prayers to Almighty God Most High.
20 And the singers of Psalms raised their voices, and a full sweet sound increased in the great house.
21 And the people petitioned the Most High Lord in prayer, even until the honor of the Lord was completed, and they finished offering their gifts.
22 Then, descending, he extended his hands over the entire congregation of the sons of Israel, to give glory to God from his lips, and to glory in his name.
23 And he repeated his prayer, wanting to reveal the virtue of God.
24 And now, pray to the God of all, who has accomplished great things over all the earth, who has increased our days from our mother’s womb, and who has acted toward us in accord with his mercy.
25 May he give us joyfulness in heart, and may there be peace in our days, in Israel for unending days,
26 so that Israel may trust the mercy of God to be with us, in order to free us in his days.
27 Two nations my soul hates, and a third, which I hate, is not a nation:
28 those who sit upon mount Seir, and the Philistines, and the foolish people who live at Shechem.
29 Jesus, the son of Sirach, of Jerusalem, who renewed wisdom from his heart, wrote the doctrine of wisdom and discipline in this book.
30 Blessed is he who lives by these good things. Whoever places these things in his heart will be ever wise.
31 For if he does these things, he will prevail in all things. For the light of God is upon his footsteps.
1 The prayer of Jesus, the son of Sirach: I will confess to you, O Lord and King, and I will give praise to you, O God my Saviour.
2 I will acknowledge your name. For you have been my Helper and Protector.
3 And you have freed my body from perdition, from the snare of the iniquitous tongue, and from the lips of those who forge lies. And you have been my Helper in the sight of those who stood nearby.
4 And you have freed me according to the multitude of the mercy of your name: from those who roared and prepared to devour,
5 from the hands of those who sought my life, and from the gates of tribulation that surrounded me,
6 from the oppression of the flames that surrounded me, and so I was not burned in the midst of the fire,
7 from the depths of the bowels of hell, and from the defiled tongue, and from lying words, from an iniquitous king, and from an unjust tongue.
8 My soul shall praise the Lord, even unto death.
9 For my life was drawing near to hell below.
10 And they surrounded me on every side. And there was no one who would help me. I looked around for the assistance of men, and there was none.
11 Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your works, which are from the very beginning.
12 For you rescue those who persevere for you, O Lord, and you free them from the hands of the Gentiles.
13 You exalted my habitation upon the earth, and I made supplication that death would pass away.
14 I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, so that he would not abandon me in the day of my tribulation, nor in the time of arrogance without assistance.
15 I will praise your name unceasingly, and I will praise it with thanksgiving, for my prayer was heeded.
16 And you freed me from perdition, and you rescued me from the time of iniquity.
17 Because of this, I will give thanks and praise to you, and I will bless the name of the Lord.
18 When I was still young, before I wandered astray, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
19 I asked for her before the temple, and even to the very end, I will inquire after her. And she flourished like a newly-ripened grape.
20 My heart rejoiced in her. My feet walked in the right path. From my youth, I pursued her.
21 I bent my ear a little and accepted her.
22 I found much wisdom within myself, and I benefited greatly by her.
23 I will give glory to him who gives wisdom to me.
24 For I have decided that I should act according to wisdom. I have been zealous for what is good, and so I will not be confounded.
25 My soul has struggled for wisdom, and in doing so, I have been confirmed.
26 I extended my hands on high, and I mourned my ignorance of her.
27 I directed my soul toward her, and I found her within knowledge.
28 From the beginning, I held my heart to wisdom. Because of this, I will not be forsaken.
29 My stomach was stirred up while seeking her. Because of her, I will hold a good possession.
30 The Lord has given me a tongue as my reward, and I will praise him with it.
31 Draw near to me, you who are untaught, and gather yourselves into the house of discipline.
32 Why are you reluctant? And what do you have to say about these things? Your souls are exceedingly thirsty!
33 I have opened my mouth, and I have spoken. Buy wisdom for yourselves without silver,
34 and subject your neck to her yoke, and let your soul accept her discipline. For she is close enough to be found.
35 See with your own eyes how I have labored only a little, and have found much rest for myself.
36 Take up discipline, as if it were a great sum of money, and possess an abundance of gold in her.
37 Let your soul rejoice in his mercy. For you will not be confounded by his praise.
38 Accomplish your work before the time. And he will give you your reward in his time.
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20 And, when all now hoped that judgment would soon occur, and when the enemies were near, and the army was set in order, with the beasts and the horsemen positioned in strategic places,
21 Maccabeus, considering the arrival of the multitude, and the various preparations of weapons, and the fierceness of the beasts, extending his hands to heaven, called upon the Lord, who works miracles, who gives victory to those who are worthy, not according to the power of the weapons, but just as it pleases him.
22 Then, calling out in this way, he said: “You, O Lord, who sent your Angel under Hezekiah, king of Judah, and who killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand from the camp of Sennacherib,
23 now also, O Ruler of the heavens, send your good Angel before us, who are in fear and trembling at the greatness of your arm,
24 so that those who approach against your holy people with blasphemy may be afraid.” And in this way, indeed, he concluded his prayer.
25 But Nicanor, and those who were with him, advanced with trumpets and songs.
26 In truth, Judas, and those who were with him, calling upon God through prayers, came together against them.
27 Indeed, fighting with their hands, but praying to the Lord with their hearts, they struck down no less than thirty-five thousand, being delighted by the presence of God.
28 And when they had ceased and were returning with gladness, they realized, by his armor, that Nicanor had been slain.
29 And so, making a loud noise and inciting a disturbance, they blessed the Almighty Lord in the language of the fathers.
30 But Judas, who was prepared throughout all his body and soul to die for his citizens, instructed that Nicanor’s head, and his hand with the arm, should be cut off and carried through to Jerusalem.
31 When it arrived, having called together his fellow tribesmen, and the priests to the altar, he summoned those also who were in the stronghold.
32 And he displayed the head of Nicanor, and his nefarious hand, which he had extended against the holy house of Almighty God with magnificent boasting.
33 He even ordered now that the tongue of the impious Nicanor should be cut up and given in pieces to the birds, but that the hand of this demented man should be suspended opposite the temple.
34 Therefore, they all blessed the Lord of heaven, saying, “Blessed is he who has kept his own place uncontaminated.”
35 Then he suspended Nicanor’s head at the top of the stronghold, so that it would be an evident and manifest sign of the assistance of God.
36 And so, they all decreed by common counsel in no way to let this day pass without celebration,
37 but to hold a celebration on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, which was called in the Syrian language: the day before Mardochias’ day.
38 Therefore, these things were accomplished concerning Nicanor, and from that time the city was possessed by the Hebrews. And so, I will bring an end to my narration here.
39 And, indeed, if I have done well, so as to have made an adequate history, this also is what I wanted. But if it is less than worthy, may it be permitted me.
40 For, just as it is adverse to drink always wine, or always water, so also it is pleasant to use sometimes the one, and sometimes the other. So, if the words were always exact, it would not be pleasing to the readers. Therefore, here it shall be completed.
1 Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
3 Praise him with sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs.
5 Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.
1 And he showed me the river of the water of life, shining like crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of its main street, and on both sides of the river, was the Tree of Life, bearing twelve fruits, offering one fruit for each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the health of the nations.
3 And every curse shall be no more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants shall serve him.
4 And they shall see his face. And his name shall be on their foreheads.
5 And night shall be no more. And they will not need the light of a lamp, nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them. And they shall reign forever and ever.
6 And he said to me: “These words are entirely faithful and true.” And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his Angel to reveal to his servant what must occur soon:
7 For behold, I am approaching quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I, John, heard and saw these things. And, after I had heard and seen, I fell down, so as to adore before the feet of the Angel, who was revealing these things to me.
9 And he said to me: “Be careful not to do so. For I am your fellow servant, and I am among your brothers the prophets, and among those who keep the words of the prophecy of this book. Adore God.”
10 And he said to me: “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book. For the time is near.
11 Whoever does harm, he might still do harm. And whoever is filthy, he might still be filthy. And whoever is just, he may still be just. And one who is holy, he may still be holy.”
12 Behold, I am approaching quickly! And my repayment is with me, to render to each one according to his works.
13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. So may they have a right to the tree of life; so may they enter through the gates into the City.
15 Outside are dogs, and drug users, and homosexuals, and murderers, and those who serve idols, and all who love and do what is false.
16 I, Jesus, have sent my Angel, to testify to these things for you among the Churches. I am the Root and the Origin of David, the bright morning Star.
17 And the Spirit and the Bride say: “Draw near.” And whoever hears, let him say: “Draw near.” And whoever thirsts, let him draw near. And whoever is willing, let him accept the water of life, freely.
18 For I call as witnesses all listeners of the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone will have added to these, God will add upon him the afflictions written in this book.
19 And if anyone will have taken away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his portion from the Book of Life, and from the Holy City, and from these things which have been written in this book.
20 He who offers testimony to these things, says: “Even now, I am approaching quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
