Anonymous (Septuagint) · a new plain-English translation from the original language
1| Moses, beloved by God and men, whose memory is held in blessings.
2| He made him equal in glory to the holy ones, and made him great in the fears of his enemies.
3| By his words he stopped signs and wonders; he glorified him before the face of kings. He gave him commands for his people, and showed him something of his own glory.
4| In faith and meekness he made him holy; he chose him out of all flesh.
5| He let Moses listen to his own voice, and led him into the dense cloud-darkness, and handed him the commandments face to face, a law of life and knowledge, to teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his judgments.
6| He exalted Aaron, a holy man like to Moses, his brother, of the tribe of Levi.
7| He established for him an everlasting covenant, and gave him the priesthood of the people; he blessed him with splendor, and girded him with a robe of glory.
8| He clothed him with the perfection of glory, and strengthened him with garments of authority — the breeches, the long robe, and the ephod.
9| And he encircled him with pomegranates, and with very many golden bells all around, to sound out a note at his steps, to make heard a sound in the temple as a reminder for the sons of his people.
10| With a holy robe of gold and violet and purple, crafted by an embroiderer, together with a breastplate for judgment and the Urim of truth,
11| with twisted scarlet, the work of a craftsman, with precious stones engraved like a seal, set in gold, the work of a jeweler, engraved in writing as a reminder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.
12| A golden crown upon the turban, an engraving of a seal of holiness, an honor of dignity, a work of strength, desires of the eyes, richly adorned.
13| Before him nothing like this had ever been made; no stranger ever put it on, but only his sons, and his descendants forever.
14| His sacrifices shall be wholly burned continually, twice each day.
15| Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil; it became for him an everlasting covenant, and for his offspring throughout the days of heaven, to minister to the Lord and serve as priest, and to bless his people in his name.
16| He chose him out of all the living, to bring the offering to the Lord, incense and sweet savor for a memorial, to make atonement for your people.
17| He gave him authority in his commandments, power in the covenants of judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to instruct Israel in his law.
18| Strangers rose up against him and were jealous of him in the wilderness, the men of Dathan and Abiram, and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger.
19| The Lord saw it and was not pleased, and they were consumed in the wrath of his anger; he worked wonders against them, to devour them in the flame of his fire.
20| And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance; he divided to them the firstfruits of the early produce; he prepared bread in abundance for them first.
21| For they were to eat from the offerings made to the Lord, which he granted to Aaron and to his descendants.
22| Yet in the land held by the people he shall have no inheritance, and he holds no share among the people; for the Lord himself makes up his share and inheritance.
23| And Phinehas son of Eleazar is third in glory, for his ardor in reverence toward the Lord, and for standing firm when the people turned aside, in the goodness of the eagerness of his soul; and he made atonement for Israel.
24| Therefore a covenant of peace was established for him, that he should be leader of the holy things and of his people, so that to him and to his descendants should belong the greatness of the priesthood forever.
25| And a covenant was made with David, son of the tribe of Judah, an inheritance of a king, from son to son alone; the inheritance of Aaron belongs also to his descendants.
26| May he grant you wisdom within, so that you may govern his people with righteousness, so that their good things may not vanish, and their glory may endure to their generations.