1. It was Simon, the son of Onias, the great priest, Who in his life repaired the house, And in his days strengthened the temple:
2. And by him was built from the foundation the height of the double wall, The lofty underworks of the inclosure of the temple:
3. In his days the cistern of waters was diminished, The brazen vessel in compass as the sea.
4. It was he that took thought for his people that they should not fall, And fortified the city against besieging:
5. How glorious was he when the people gathered round him At his coming forth out of the sanctuary!
6. As the morning star in the midst of a cloud, As the moon at the full:
7. As the sun shining forth upon the temple of the Most High, And as the rainbow giving light in clouds of glory:
8. As the flower of roses in the days of new fruits, As lilies at the waterspring, As the shoot of the frankencense tree in the time of summer:
9. As fire and incense in the censer, As a vessel all of beaten gold Adorned with all manner of precious stones:
10. As an olive tree budding forth fruits, And as a cypress growing high among the clouds.
11. When he took up the robe of glory, And put on the perfection of exultation, In the ascent of the holy altar, He made glorious the precinct of the sanctuary.
12. And when he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, Himself also standing by the hearth of the altar, His brethren as a garland round about him, He was as a young cedar in Libanus; And as stems of palm trees compassed they him round about,
13. And all the sons of Aaron in their glory, And the Lord’s offering in their hands, before all the congregation of Israel.