Read & explore together
Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people
Sirach 50:5–21 praises a priestly ministry that gathers people for worship. The passage uses rich comparisons, then traces offering, music, prayer and blessing in an ordered pattern centred on the Most High.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is from the Catholic additional books and speaks in a praise-filled, wisdom-shaped style. In these verses, the one described is not named. The focus stays on his splendour in service, the priests’ actions, and the congregation’s worship before the Lord Most High.
Sirach 50:5–21Main takeaway
Sirach 50:5–21 presents beautiful, ordered worship in which priestly service leads the gathered people to honour the Lord Most High.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Poetic glory in many comparisonsThe poem begins with the gathered people and the priest coming out from the house of the veil.
Explanation
The poem begins with the gathered people and the priest coming out from the house of the veil. It describes him with a chain of comparisons: morning star, full moon, sun, rainbow, flowers, incense, gold, olive tree and cypress. The language builds a picture of splendour and beauty.
02Glory connected to the altar serviceThe description then moves to priestly action. The priest puts on a glorious robe and ascends to the holy altar, making the sanctuary court glorious.
Explanation
The description then moves to priestly action. The priest puts on a glorious robe and ascends to the holy altar, making the sanctuary court glorious. Surrounded by his kindred and the sons of Aaron, he receives the portions and arranges the offering of the Most High, the Almighty.
03Offering and the people’s responseThe service reaches a public high point when he pours out the cup of libation at the foot of the altar.
Explanation
The service reaches a public high point when he pours out the cup of libation at the foot of the altar. Then the sons of Aaron shout and sound trumpets as a reminder before the Most High. All the people hurry, fall on their faces, and worship their Lord, God Most High.
04Praise, prayer and blessing to the LordSingers add their voices, and the whole house is filled with melody. The people implore the Lord Most High in prayer until the worship is finished.
Explanation
Singers add their voices, and the whole house is filled with melody. The people implore the Lord Most High in prayer until the worship is finished. Then he lifts up his hands over the congregation to give blessing to the Lord with his lips and to glory in his name, before bowing again in worship.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which comparisons in verses 6–10 make the priest seem bright, fruitful or precious?
List the images the passage uses and notice how they gather ideas of beauty, light and richness.
02How does the passage show that worship involved both priests and the whole people?
Compare the priest’s actions and the sons of Aaron with the congregation’s worship, prayer and posture.
03What words in the last verses keep attention on the Lord Most High?
Look for repeated titles for God and for actions such as worship, prayer, blessing and bowing.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 50:5–21
5How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil!
6He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon,
7like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory,
8like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time,
9like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones,
10like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds.
11When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendor, ascending to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious.
12When he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his kindred like a garland around him, he was like a young cedar in Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees.
13All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel.
14Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,
15he stretched out his hand to the cup of libation, and poured out the cup of the grape. He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Most High, the King of all.
16Then the sons of Aaron shouted. They sounded the trumpets of beaten work. They made a great fanfare to be heard, for a reminder before the Most High.
17Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.
18The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house.
19And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service.
20Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name.
21He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High.