1and was beloved by God and people,

Moses, whose memory is blessed.

2He made him equal in glory to the holy ones,

and made him great, to the terror of his enemies.

3By his words he performed swift miracles;45.3 Heb: Gk caused signs to cease

the Lord45.3 Gk he glorified him in the presence of kings.

He gave him commandments for his people,

and revealed to him his glory.

4For his faithfulness and meekness he consecrated him,

choosing him out of all humankind.

5He allowed him to hear his voice,

and led him into the dark cloud,

and gave him the commandments face to face,

the law of life and knowledge,

so that he might teach Jacob the covenant,

and Israel his decrees.

Aaron

6He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses45.6 Gk him

who was his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

7He made an everlasting covenant with him,

and gave him the priesthood of the people.

He blessed him with stateliness,

and put a glorious robe on him.

8He clothed him in perfect splendour,

and strengthened him with the symbols of authority,

the linen undergarments, the long robe, and the ephod.

9And he encircled him with pomegranates,

with many golden bells all round,

to send forth a sound as he walked,

to make their ringing heard in the temple

as a reminder to his people;

10with the sacred vestment, of gold and violet

and purple, the work of an embroiderer;

with the oracle of judgement, Urim and Thummim;

11with twisted crimson, the work of an artisan;

with precious stones engraved like seals,

in a setting of gold, the work of a jeweller,

to commemorate in engraved letters

each of the tribes of Israel;

12with a gold crown upon his turban,

inscribed like a seal with ‘Holiness’,

a distinction to be prized, the work of an expert,

a delight to the eyes, richly adorned.

13Before him such beautiful things did not exist.

No outsider ever put them on,

but only his sons

and his descendants in perpetuity.

14His sacrifices shall be wholly burned

twice every day continually.

15Moses ordained him,

and anointed him with holy oil;

it was an everlasting covenant for him

and for his descendants as long as the heavens endure,

to minister to the Lord45.15 Gk him and serve as priest

and bless his people in his name.

16He chose him out of all the living

to offer sacrifice to the Lord,

incense and a pleasing odour as a memorial portion,

to make atonement for the45.16 Other ancient authorities read his or your people.

17In his commandments he gave him

authority and statutes and45.17 Heb: Gk authority in covenants of judgements,

to teach Jacob the testimonies,

and to enlighten Israel with his law.

18Outsiders conspired against him,

and envied him in the wilderness,

Dathan and Abiram and their followers

and the company of Korah, in wrath and anger.

19The Lord saw it and was not pleased,

and in the heat of his anger they were destroyed;

he performed wonders against them

to consume them in flaming fire.

20He added glory to Aaron

and gave him a heritage;

he allotted to him the best of the first fruits,

and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance;

21for they eat the sacrifices of the Lord,

which he gave to him and his descendants.

22But in the land of the people he has no inheritance,

and he has no portion among the people;

for the Lord45.22 Gk he himself is his45.22 Other ancient authorities read your portion and inheritance.

Phinehas

23Phinehas son of Eleazar ranks third in glory

for being zealous in the fear of the Lord,

and standing firm, when the people turned away,

in the noble courage of his soul;

and he made atonement for Israel.

24Therefore a covenant of friendship was established with him,

that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people,

that he and his descendants should have

the dignity of the priesthood for ever.

25Just as a covenant was established with David

son of Jesse of the tribe of Judah,

that the king's heritage passes only from son to son,

so the heritage of Aaron is for his descendants alone.

26And now bless the Lord

who has crowned you with glory.45.26 Heb: Gk lacks And…glory

May the Lord45.26 Gk he grant you wisdom of mind

to judge his people with justice,

so that their prosperity may not vanish,

and that their glory may endure through all their generations.