Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 50
Commentary from 3 fathers
Simon the high priest, the son of Onias, who in his life repaired the house again, and in his days fortified the temple:
ΣΙΜΩΝ ᾿Ονίου υἱὸς ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, ὃς ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ ὑπέρραψεν οἶκον καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἐστερέωσε τὸν ναόν·
Сі́мѡнъ сы́нъ ѻ҆ні́инъ і҆ере́й вели́кїй, и҆́же въ животѣ̀ свое́мъ состро́и до́мъ и҆ во дни̑ своѧ̑ ᲂу҆твердѝ це́рковь.
And by him was built from the foundation the double height, the high fortress of the wall about the temple:
καὶ ὑπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἐθεμελιώθη ὕψος διπλῆς, ἀνάλημμα ὑψηλὸν περιβόλου ἱεροῦ·
И҆ тѣ́мъ ѡ҆снована̀ бы́сть высота̀ сꙋгꙋ́ба, воздвиже́нїе высо́ко ѡ҆гражде́нїѧ церко́внагѡ.
In his days the cistern to receive water, being in compass as the sea, was covered with plates of brass:
ἐν ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ ἠλαττώθη ἀποδοχεῖον ὑδάτων, λάκκος ὡσεὶ θαλάσσης τὸ περίμετρον·
Во дни̑ є҆гѡ̀ ᲂу҆ма́лишасѧ сосꙋ́ди водні́и, ро́въ {Въ нѣ́к.: мѣ́дь.} ꙗ҆́кѡ мо́рѧ ѡ҆крꙋже́нїе.
He took care of the temple that it should not fall, and fortified the city against besieging:
ὁ φροντίζων τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πτώσεως καὶ ἐνισχύσας πόλιν ἐν πολιορκήσει.
Блюды́й лю́ди своѧ̑ ѿ паде́нїѧ и҆ ᲂу҆крѣпи́вый гра́дъ во ѡ҆бсѣде́нїи.
How was he honoured in the midst of the people in his coming out of the sanctuary!
ὡς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν περιστροφῇ λαοῦ, ἐν ἐξόδῳ οἴκου καταπετάσματος·
Ко́ль просла́вленъ бы́сть въ сожи́тельствѣ люді́й, во и҆схо́дѣ до́мꙋ катапета́смы {завѣ́сы};
He was as the morning star in the midst of a cloud, and as the moon at the full:
ὡς ἀστὴρ ἑωθινὸς ἐν μέσῳ νεφελῶν, ὡς σελήνη πλήρης ἐν ἡμέραις,
ꙗ҆́кѡ ѕвѣзда̀ ᲂу҆́треннѧѧ посредѣ̀ ѡ҆блакѡ́въ, а҆́ки лꙋна̀ полна̀ во дне́хъ свои́хъ,
As the sun shining upon the temple of the most High, and as the rainbow giving light in the bright clouds:
ὡς ἥλιος ἐκλάμπων ἐπὶ ναὸν ῾Υψίστου καὶ ὡς τόξον φωτίζον ἐν νεφέλαις δόξης,
ꙗ҆́кѡ со́лнце сїѧ́ющее на це́рковь вы́шнѧгѡ, и҆ а҆́ки дꙋга̀ свѣтѧ́щаѧсѧ на ѡ҆́блацѣхъ сла́вы:
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:
ὡς ἄνθος ῥόδων ἐν ἡμέραις νέων, ὡς κρίνα ἐπ᾿ ἐξόδῳ ὕδατος, ὡς βλαστὸς λιβάνου ἐν ἡμέραις θέρους,
ꙗ҆́кѡ цвѣ́тъ ши́пкѡвъ во дне́хъ весе́нныхъ, ꙗ҆́кѡ крі́нъ при и҆схо́дищихъ воды̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ стебло̀ лїва́ново во дне́хъ жа́твы:
As fire and incense in the censer, and as a vessel of beaten gold set with all manner of precious stones:
ὡς πῦρ καὶ λίβανος ἐπὶ πυρίου, ὡς σκεῦος χρυσίου ὁλοσφύρητον κεκοσμημένον παντὶ λίθῳ πολυτελεῖ,
ꙗ҆́кѡ ѻ҆́гнь и҆ лїва́нъ на ѻ҆гни́щи,
And as a fair olive tree budding forth fruit, and as a cypress tree which groweth up to the clouds.
ὡς ἐλαία ἀναθάλλουσα καρποὺς καὶ ὡς κυπάρισσος ὑψουμένη ἐν νεφέλαις.
ꙗ҆́коже сосꙋ́дъ зла́тъ и҆ско́ванъ, ᲂу҆кра́шенъ всѧ́кимъ ка́менїемъ многоцѣ́ннымъ,
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.
ἐν τῷ ἀναλαμβάνειν αὐτὸν στολὴν δόξης καὶ ἐνδιδύσκεσθαι αὐτὸν συντέλειαν καυχήματος, ἐν ἀναβάσει θυσιαστηρίου ἁγίου ἐδόξασε περιβολὴν ἁγιάσματος·
ꙗ҆́кѡ ма́слина и҆зносѧ́щаѧ плоды̀ и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ кѷпарі́съ возраста́ѧй до ѡ҆́блакъ.
When he took the portions out of the priests’ 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.
ἐν δὲ τῷ δέχεσθαι μέλη ἐκ χειρῶν ἱερέων, καὶ αὐτὸς ἑστὼς παρ᾿ ἐσχάρᾳ βωμοῦ κυκλόθεν αὐτοῦ στέφανος ἀδελφῶν, ὡς βλάστημα κέδρου ἐν τῷ Λιβάνῳ· καὶ ἐκύκλωσαν αὐτὸν ὡς στελέχη φοινίκων·
Внегда́ же прїима́ти ча̑сти ѿ рꙋ́къ і҆ере́йскихъ, и҆ то́й стоѧ́ше при ѻ҆гни́щи ѻ҆лтарѧ̀:
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.
καὶ πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρὼν ἐν δόξῃ αὐτῶν καὶ προσφορὰ Κυρίου ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν ἔναντι πάσης ἐκκλησίας ᾿Ισραήλ·
ѡ҆́крестъ є҆гѡ̀ вѣне́цъ бра́тїи, ꙗ҆́кѡ прозѧбе́нїе ке́дрско въ лїва́нѣ, и҆ ѡ҆крꙋжи́ша є҆го̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ сте́блїе фі́нїково:
And finishing the service at the altar, that he might adorn the offering of the most high Almighty,
καὶ συντέλειαν λειτουργῶν ἐπὶ βωμῶν κοσμῆσαι προσφορὰν ῾Υψίστου παντοκράτορος·
и҆ всѝ сы́нове а҆арѡ̑ни во сла́вѣ свое́й, и҆ приноше́нїе гдⷭ҇не въ рꙋка́хъ и҆́хъ пред̾ всѣ́мъ собо́ромъ і҆и҃левымъ.
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.
ἐξέτεινεν ἐπὶ σπονδείου χεῖρα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσπεισεν ἐξ αἵματος σταφυλῆς, ἐξέχεεν εἰς θεμέλια θυσιαστηρίου ὀσμὴν εὐωδίας ῾Υψίστῳ παμβασιλεῖ.
И҆ соверше́нїе слꙋжи́телей на ѻ҆лтаре́хъ, є҆́же ᲂу҆краси́ти приноше́нїе вы́шнѧгѡ Вседержи́телѧ,
Then all the people together hasted, and fell down to the earth upon their faces to worship their Lord God Almighty, the most High.
τότε πᾶς ὁ λαὸς κοινῇ κατέσπευσε καὶ ἔπεσαν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν προσκυνῆσαι τῷ Κυρίῳ αὐτῶν παντοκράτορι Θεῷ τῷ ῾Υψίστῳ·
Тогда̀ всѝ лю́дїе ѻ҆́бще приспѣ́ша и҆ падо́ша ни́цы на землѝ поклони́тисѧ гдⷭ҇еви своемꙋ̀ Вседержи́телю бг҃ꙋ вы́шнемꙋ:
The singers also sang praises with their voices, with great variety of sounds was there made sweet melody.
καὶ ᾔνεσαν οἱ ψαλμῳδοὶ ἐν φωναῖς αὐτῶν, ἐν πλείστῳ οἴκῳ ἐγλυκάνθη μέλος.
и҆ восхвали́ша пѣвцы̀ гла̑сы свои́ми, въ вели́цѣмъ гла́сѣ ᲂу҆слади́сѧ пѣ́нїе:
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.
καὶ ἐδεήθη ὁ λαὸς Κυρίου ῾Υψίστου ἐν προσευχῇ κατέναντι ἐλεήμονος, ἕως συντελεσθῇ κόσμος Κυρίου, καὶ τὴν λειτουργίαν αὐτοῦ ἐτελείωσαν.
и҆ помоли́шасѧ лю́дїе гдⷭ҇ꙋ вы́шнемꙋ моли́твою пред̾ млⷭ҇тивымъ, до́ндеже соверши́сѧ красота̀ гдⷭ҇нѧ, и҆ слꙋ́жбꙋ свою̀ сконча́ша.
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.
τότε καταβὰς ἐπῇρε χεῖρας αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἐκκλησίαν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ δοῦναι εὐλογίαν Κυρίῳ ἐκ χειλέων αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ καυχᾶσθαι.
Тогда̀ соше́дъ воздви́же рꙋ́ки своѧ̑ на ве́сь собо́ръ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, да́ти бл҃гослове́нїе гдⷭ҇еви ѿ ᲂу҆сте́нъ свои́хъ и҆ и҆́менемъ є҆гѡ̀ похвали́тисѧ.
And they bowed themselves down to worship the second time, that they might receive a blessing from the most High.
καὶ ἐδευτέρωσεν ἐν προσκυνήσει ἐπιδείξασθαι τὴν εὐλογίαν παρὰ ῾Υψίστου.
И҆ повторѝ поклоне́нїе прїѧ́ти блгⷭ҇ве́нїе ѿ вы́шнѧгѡ.
Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things every where, which exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to his mercy.
Καὶ νῦν εὐλογήσατε τῷ Θεῷ πάντων τῷ μεγαλοποιοῦντι πάντη, τὸν ὑψοῦντα ἡμέρας ἡμῶν ἐκ μήτρας καὶ ποιοῦντα μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν κατὰ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ.
И҆ нн҃ѣ благослове́нїе бг҃а всѣ́хъ, вє́лїѧ творѧ́щагѡ є҆ди́нагѡ всю́дꙋ, возносѧ́щагѡ дни̑ на́шѧ ѿ ложе́снъ и҆ творѧ́щагѡ съ на́ми по млⷭ҇ти свое́й:
He grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for ever:
δῴῃ ἡμῖν εὐφροσύνην καρδίας καὶ γενέσθαι εἰρήνην ἐν ἡμέραις ἡμῶν ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ κατὰ τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ αἰῶνος·
да да́стъ на́мъ весе́лїе се́рдца, и҆ да бꙋ́детъ ми́ръ во дни̑ на́шѧ во і҆и҃ли ꙗ҆́коже дни̑ вѣ́ка:
That he would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!
ἐμπιστεύσαι μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτοῦ λυτρωσάσθω ἡμᾶς. -
да ᲂу҆вѣ́ритъ съ на́ми млⷭ҇ть свою̀ и҆ во дни̑ своѧ̑ и҆зба́витъ ны̀.
There be two manner of nations which my heart abhorreth, and the third is no nation:
᾿Εν δυσὶν ἔθνεσι προσώχθισεν ἡ ψυχή μου, καὶ τὸ τρίτον οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθνος.
Два̀ ꙗ҆зы̑ка ѡ҆мерзѣ́ста дꙋшѝ мое́й, а҆ тре́тїй нѣ́сть ꙗ҆зы́къ:
He says that he hated two peoples. One of these is the Jewish people subject to the letter of the law, which was also known by the name of Seir, which means “shaggy” or “hairy.” Seir is Esau, whose name means “red,” the older son of Isaac and Rebecca; the younger was called Jacob. But why was Esau all red and hairy, if not because the first people was stained by the blood of the prophets and of Christ and lived in the squalor of sin and wickedness? For this reason the younger one grabbed onto his heel, since the younger people would mysteriously surpass the older. This is in fact “a perverse and adulterous generation,” according to the truthful voice of the Gospel, that “kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to them.” In the last days they did not fear to raise their impious hands against the heir, killing the Son of God. … The other people are the Philistines, whose name means “double ruin” and symbolizes the people of the nations, contaminated by both idolatry and perverse conduct and thus making themselves hateful, since in error they have strayed far from the way of truth. The third is then the assembly of heretics, the foolish people living at Shechem, in the sides of the mountain and in discomfort, because, writing and teaching perverse things every day, they foolishly waste their effort. The fact that they are not even considered a people shows that heretics do not have a single origin or a single error but have arisen in many different places and fallen into many errors. And they even contradict each other.
On Ecclesiasticus 10:30
They that sit upon the mountain of Samaria, and they that dwell among the Philistines, and that foolish people that dwell in Sichem.
οἱ καθήμενοι ἐν ὄρει Σαμαρείας καὶ Φυλιστιεὶμ καὶ ὁ λαὸς μωρὸς ὁ κατοικῶν ἐν Σικίμοις.
сѣдѧ́щїи на горѣ̀ самарі́йстѣй и҆ фѷлїсті́млѧне, и҆ лю́дїе бꙋ́и живꙋ́щїи въ сїкі́мѣхъ.
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.
Παιδείαν συνέσεως καὶ ἐπιστήμης ἐχάραξα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ, ᾿Ιησοῦς υἱὸς Σειρὰχ ῾Ιεροσολυμίτης, ὃς ἀνώμβρησε σοφίαν ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτοῦ.
Наказа́нїе ра́зꙋма и҆ вѣ́дѣнїѧ начерта̀ въ кни́зѣ се́й і҆исꙋ́съ сы́нъ сїра́ховъ, і҆ерⷭ҇ли́млѧнинъ, и҆́же ѡ҆дождѝ премꙋ́дрость ѿ се́рдца своегѡ̀.
Blessed is he that shall be exercised in these things; and he that layeth them up in his heart shall become wise.
μακάριος ὃς ἐν τούτοις ἀναστραφήσεται, καὶ θεὶς αὐτὰ ἐπὶ καρδίαν αὐτοῦ σοφισθήσεται·
Блаже́нъ, и҆́же въ си́хъ поживе́тъ, и҆ и҆́же ѧ҆̀ положи́тъ въ се́рдцы свое́мъ, ᲂу҆премꙋ́дритсѧ.
For if he do them, he shall be strong to all things: for the light of the Lord leadeth him.
ἐὰν γὰρ αὐτὰ ποιήσῃ, πρὸς πάντα ἰσχύσει, ὅτι φῶς Κυρίου τὸ ἴχνος αὐτοῦ.
А҆́ще бо сотвори́тъ сїѧ̑, ко всѣ̑мъ ᲂу҆крѣпи́тсѧ, ꙗ҆́кѡ свѣ́тъ гдⷭ҇ень слѣ́дъ є҆гѡ̀.
All of the works of the divine art show in themselves a certain unity, form and order. Each constitutes something of a unity, such as bodily natures and the characters of souls. And they are constituted according to a certain form, like the figures and qualities of bodies or the theories and techniques of the soul. And they follow or have a specific order, like the weights and positions of bodies or the loves and pleasures of the soul. It is necessary, therefore, that knowing the Creator through his works, we rise to the Trinity, of whom the creation, in a sure and just proportion, bears the traces.
On the Trinity 6:10.12
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.
τότε ἀνέκραγον υἱοὶ ᾿Ααρών, ἐν σάλπιγξιν ἐλαταῖς ἤχησαν, ἀκουστὴν ἐποίησαν φωνὴν μεγάλην εἰς μνημόσυνον ἔναντι ῾Υψίστου.
Тогда̀ возопи́ша сы́нове а҆арѡ̑ни, трꙋба́ми ко́ваными вострꙋби́ша, ᲂу҆слы́шанъ сотвори́ша гла́съ вели́къ на па́мѧть пред̾ вы́шнимъ.