Lesson sequence
Sirach 50: Simon strengthens sanctuary and city
Sirach 50:1–4; Sirach 50:5–21; Sirach 50:22–24; Sirach 50:25–26; Sirach 50:27–29
Sirach 50:1 to 4 praises Simon son of Onias by naming practical work he did for the temple, its walls, the water supply, and the city’s safety. The passage highlights careful leadership through strengthening and protection. This lesson also brings together Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people, Bless God and pray for enduring peace, The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples, The author commends his written instruction.
Before you teach
This passage comes from Sirach, a book in the Catholic additional books. In these verses, the writer focuses on Simon the high priest and lists visible works linked with his lifetime and days: repairing the house, strengthening the temple, building walls, digging a cistern, and fortifying the city.
Explain the central teaching of Sirach 50: Simon strengthens sanctuary and city, using two details from the reading. This passage presents Simon’s leadership by pointing to concrete actions that strengthened worship, infrastructure, and protection for the people. Sirach 50:5–21 presents beautiful, ordered worship in which priestly service leads the gathered people to honour the Lord Most High. This passage teaches that God’s people can bless him for his mercy and also pray for peace, joy, and deliverance in his time. This passage records the speaker’s bitter judgement against three groups, so readers should notice both the intensity of the language and the exact groups named. This passage presents wisdom as written instruction that brings blessing, wisdom and strength to the one who keeps and does it under the Lord’s guidance.
Your lesson sequence
Use the teaching outline below for each session, with these reading and activity choices.
Simon strengthens sanctuary and city
Sirach 50:1–4
This passage presents Simon’s leadership by pointing to concrete actions that strengthened worship, infrastructure, and protection for the people.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 50:1–4. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people
Sirach 50:5–21
Sirach 50:5–21 presents beautiful, ordered worship in which priestly service leads the gathered people to honour the Lord Most High.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 50:5–21. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Bless God and pray for enduring peace
Sirach 50:22–24
This passage teaches that God’s people can bless him for his mercy and also pray for peace, joy, and deliverance in his time.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 50:22–24. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples
Sirach 50:25–26
This passage records the speaker’s bitter judgement against three groups, so readers should notice both the intensity of the language and the exact groups named.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 50:25–26. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
The author commends his written instruction
Sirach 50:27–29
This passage presents wisdom as written instruction that brings blessing, wisdom and strength to the one who keeps and does it under the Lord’s guidance.
Try together: Use the evidence sheet for Sirach 50:27–29. Record key details, compare the opening and closing of this reading, and prepare a short explanation with a supporting Bible reference for each point.
Welcome: Sirach 50: Simon strengthens sanctuary and city
5 minIntroduce “Simon strengthens sanctuary and city”, “Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people”, “Bless God and pray for enduring peace”, “The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples”, “The author commends his written instruction” and locate Sirach 50:1–4; Sirach 50:5–21; Sirach 50:22–24; Sirach 50:25–26; Sirach 50:27–29. This passage presents Simon’s leadership by pointing to concrete actions that strengthened worship, infrastructure, and protection for the people. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for. Choose the reading for today’s session from the sequence above.
Sirach 50:1, Sirach 50:3, Sirach 50:4
Read and explain the passage
12 minSimon strengthens sanctuary and city (Sirach 50:1–4): The passage begins by identifying Simon as “the son of Onias” and “the high priest”. It then links his leadership with repair and strengthening. “The house” and “the temple” show that his work was not only personal status but practical care for the place of worship during his lifetime.
Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people (Sirach 50:5–21): 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.
Bless God and pray for enduring peace (Sirach 50:22–24): The passage begins with a call to bless God. He is called “the God of all”, which gives him a wide and weighty title. The verse says he “everywhere does great things”, so the blessing is grounded in what God does, not just in human feelings or custom.
The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples (Sirach 50:25–26): The speaker begins with a first-person statement: “my soul is vexed”. That wording makes the feeling personal and intense. The complaint is aimed at “two nations”, so the verse starts with a number that prepares readers to listen carefully for a list. The line is not neutral description. It is a declaration of deep displeasure.
The author commends his written instruction (Sirach 50:27–29): The first verse is direct and personal. The writer says, “I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge”. He names himself as “Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem”. He also says he “poured forth wisdom” out of his heart. The verse states both the book’s purpose and the writer’s identity.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Simon strengthens sanctuary and city”, “Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people”, “Bless God and pray for enduring peace”, “The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples”, “The author commends his written instruction”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Sirach 50:1, Sirach 50:5, Sirach 50:6, Sirach 50:7, Sirach 50:8, Sirach 50:9, Sirach 50:10, Sirach 50:22, Sirach 50:25, Sirach 50:27
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “Which roles and actions are joined together when Simon is introduced?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage presents wisdom as written instruction that brings blessing, wisdom and strength to the one who keeps and does it under the Lord’s guidance. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Sirach 50:1, Sirach 50:24, Sirach 50:28
Make and respond: Wisdom comparison cards
12 minWork on “Sirach 50: Simon strengthens sanctuary and city: Wisdom comparison cards”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Simon strengthens sanctuary and city”, “Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people”, “Bless God and pray for enduring peace”, “The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples”, “The author commends his written instruction” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Sirach 50:1, Sirach 50:15, Sirach 50:29
Closing: return to The author commends his written instruction
3 minRevisit Sirach 50:27–29. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The author commends his written instruction and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Sirach 50:27, Sirach 50:28, Sirach 50:29
Questions to explore
Which roles and actions are joined together when Simon is introduced?
Look at how the verse names him as high priest and immediately connects that role with repairing and strengthening the worship place.
Sirach 50:1
What does the phrase “in his time” add to the prayer for deliverance?
The words show that the prayer asks God to act, while leaving the timing with him.
Sirach 50:24
What two things does Sirach 50:28 say about the person who becomes wise?
Look for the actions named in the verse: exercising these things and laying them up in the heart.
Sirach 50:28
Make, think or respond
Sirach 50: Simon strengthens sanctuary and city: Wisdom comparison cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage commends”, “What it warns against”, “The reason or outcome stated”.
- Read Sirach 50:1–4; Sirach 50:5–21; Sirach 50:22–24; Sirach 50:25–26. Use “Simon strengthens sanctuary and city”, “Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people”, “Bless God and pray for enduring peace”, “The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write a proposed everyday example beside one teaching. Label it as your example and explain which words in the text guided it.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Sirach 50: Simon strengthens sanctuary and city connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Simon strengthens sanctuary and city”, “Simon’s glorious ministry gathers the worshipping people”, “Bless God and pray for enduring peace”, “The teacher voices hostility toward neighboring peoples”, “The author commends his written instruction” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Sirach 50:1–4; Sirach 50:5–21; Sirach 50:22–24; Sirach 50:25–26; Sirach 50:27–29. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Sirach 50:1–4; Sirach 50:5–21; Sirach 50:22–24; Sirach 50:25–26; Sirach 50:27–29. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Sirach 50
1 It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the temple.
2 The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure.
3 In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference.
4 He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege.
5 How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil!
6 He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon,
7 like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory,
8 like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time,
9 like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones,
10 like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds.
11 When 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.
12 When 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.
13 All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel.
14 Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty,
15 he 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.
16 Then 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.
17 Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.
18 The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house.
19 And 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.
20 Then 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.
21 He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High.
22 Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy.
23 May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity,
24 to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time!
25 With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation:
26 Those who sit on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem.
27 I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom.
28 Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise.
29 For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.