Dilectus Deo et hominibus Moyses, cujus memoria in benedictione est.

Moses was beloved of God, and men: whose memory is in benediction.

Well loved by God, well loved among men, on the name of Moses a benediction rests.

Similem illum fecit in gloria sanctorum, et magnificavit eum in timore inimicorum, et in verbis suis monstra placavit.

He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies, and with his words he made prodigies to cease.

The Lord gave him such honour as he gives to his holy ones; gave him renown by striking terror into his enemies, and then, at his word, abated the prodigies that had befallen them.

Glorificavit illum in conspectu regum, et jussit illi coram populo suo, et ostendit illi gloriam suam.

He glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and shewed him his glory.

He made him great in the eyes of kings, entrusted commandments to him in full view of the chosen people, made a revelation to him of the divine glory.

In fide et lenitate ipsius sanctum fecit illum, et elegit eum ex omni carne.

He sanctified him in his faith, and meekness, and chose him out of all flesh.

The Lord set him apart, chosen out from the rest of mankind, so loyal he was and so gentle;

Audivit enim eum, et vocem ipsius, et induxit illum in nubem.

For he heard him, and his voice, and brought him into a cloud.

answered his prayer by taking him up into a cloud,

Et dedit illi coram præcepta, et legem vitæ et disciplinæ, docere Jacob testamentum suum, et judicia sua Israël.

And he gave him commandments before his face, and a law of life and instruction, that he might teach Jacob his covenant, and Israel his judgments.

and there, face to face, imparting commandments to him, the law that gives life and wisdom; here, Jacob, was thy covenant, here Israel, the rule thou wast to live by.

Excelsum fecit Aaron fratrem ejus, et similem sibi, de tribu Levi.

He exalted Aaron his brother, and like to himself of the tribe of Levi:

Of Levite blood, too, sprang another renowned as Moses himself, his brother Aaron. To Aaron the Lord gave high office,

Statuit ei testamentum æternum, et dedit illi sacerdotium gentis, et beatificavit illum in gloria:

He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the nation, and made him blessed in glory,

making an eternal covenant with him, investing him with the priesthood of the chosen race, enriching him with his own glory.

et circumcinxit eum zona gloriæ, et induit eum stolam gloriæ, et coronavit eum in vasis virtutis.

And he girded him about with a glorious girdle, and clothed him with a robe of glory, and crowned him with majestic attire.

Bright was the cincture that girded him, bright the robe that clothed him; no ornament he wore but spoke of majesty.

Circumpedes, et femoralia, et humerale posuit ei: et cinxit illum tintinnabulis aureis plurimis in gyro:

He put upon him a garment to the feet, and breeches, and an ephod, and he compassed him with many little bells of gold all round about,

The long tunic, the breeches, the sacred mantle, and golden bells a many compassing him about,

dare sonitum in incessu suo, auditum facere sonitum in templo in memoriam filiis gentis suæ.

That as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple, for a memorial to the children of his people.

that tinkled still as he walked, echoing through the temple to keep Israel’s name unforgotten!

Stolam sanctam auro, et hyacintho, et purpura, opus textile viri sapientis, judicio et veritate præditi:

He gave him a holy robe of gold, and blue, and purple, a woven work of a wise man, endued with judgment and truth:

The hallowed robe, all gold and blue and purple, work of a master weaver, that lacked neither skill nor faithfulness!

torto cocco opus artificis gemmis pretiosis figuratis in ligatura auri, et opere lapidarii sculptis, in memoriam secundum numerum tribuum Israël.

Of twisted scarlet the work of an artist, with precious stones cut and set in gold, and graven by the work of a lapidary for a memorial, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.

What craftsmanship of twisted thread dyed scarlet, of rare stones in a gold setting, engraved with all the gem-cutter’s art, twelve of them to commemorate the twelve tribes of Israel!

Corona aurea super mitram ejus expressa signo sanctitatis, et gloria honoris: opus virtutis, et desideria oculorum ornata.

And a crown of gold upon his mitre wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour: a work of power, and delightful to the eyes for its beauty.

The gold finishing, too, of his mitre, engraved with the legend, Holiness; so proud an adornment, so noble a work of art, such a lure for men’s eyes in its ordered beauty!

Sic pulchra ante ipsum non fuerunt talia usque ad originem.

Before him there were none so beautiful, even from the beginning.

Never vesture till then was seen so fair; and, from time immemorial,

Non est indutus illa alienigena aliquis, sed tantum filii ipsius soli, et nepotes ejus per omne tempus.

No stranger was ever clothed with them, but only his children alone, and his grandchildren for ever.

no other might put it on, only the sons of Aaron’s line, in undying succession.

Sacrificia ipsius consumpta sunt igne quotidie.

His sacrifices were consumed with fire every day.

Day in, day out the fire should consume his sacrifice;

Complevit Moyses manus ejus, et unxit illum oleo sancto.

Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil.

when Moses consecrated him with the holy oil’s anointing,

Factum est illi in testamentum æternum, et semini ejus, sicut dies cæli, fungi sacerdotio, et habere laudem, et glorificare populum suum in nomine ejus.

This was made to him for an everlasting testament, and to his seed as the days of heaven, to execute the office of the priesthood, and to have praise, and to glorify his people in his name.

this was a right granted in perpetuity, long as the heavens should last. His to perform the priest’s office, to echo God’s praise, to bless the people in his name.

Ipsum elegit ab omni vivente, offerre sacrificium Deo, incensum, et bonum odorem, in memoriam placare pro populo suo:

He chose him out of all men living, to offer sacrifice to God, incense, and a good savour, for a memorial to make reconciliation for his people:

Alone of living men, he was chosen out to offer sacrifice, and the sweet-smelling incense that is a people’s plea for remembrance, a people’s atonement.

et dedit illi in præceptis suis potestatem, in testamentis judiciorum: docere Jacob testimonia, et in lege sua lucem dare Israël.

And he gave him power in his commandments, in the covenants of his judgments, that he should teach Jacob his testimonies, and give light to Israel in his law.

Power was his to administer the divine decrees, a justiciary by right, handing on to Jacob its tradition, giving Israel the law’s light to guide it.

Quia contra illum steterunt alieni, et propter invidiam circumdederunt illum homines in deserto, qui erant cum Dathan et Abiron, et congregatio Core in iracundia.

And strangers stood up against him, and through envy the men that were with Dathan and Abiron, compassed him about in the wilderness, and the congregation of Core in their wrath.

Once, out in the desert, that right was challenged; with envious cries, men of another clan surrounded him, Dathan and Abiron for their leaders, espousing Core’s quarrel.

Vidit Dominus Deus, et non placuit illi, et consumpti sunt in impetu iracundiæ.

The Lord God saw and it pleased him not, and they were consumed in his wrathful indignation.

Ill-content was the Lord God at the sight of it; his vengeance swept them away;

Fecit illis monstra, et consumpsit illos in flamma ignis.

He wrought wonders upon them, and consumed them with a flame of fire.

by no common doom, a raging flame devoured them.

Et addidit Aaron gloriam, et dedit illi hæreditatem, et primitias frugum terræ divisit illi.

And he added glory to Aaron, and gave him an inheritance, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase of the earth.

Fresh privileges for Aaron were kept in store; he must share in the conquest by receiving all the land’s first-fruits;

Panem ipsis in primis paravit in satietatem: nam et sacrificia Domini edent, quæ dedit illi et semini ejus.

He prepared them bread in the first place unto fulness: for the sacrifices also of the Lord they shall eat, which he gave to him, and to his seed.

his clan first of all must have bread enough and to spare, his children should inherit the eating of the Lord’s own sacrifice.

Ceterum in terra gentes non hæreditabit, et pars non est illi in gente: ipse est enim pars ejus, et hæreditas.

But he shall not inherit among the people in the land, and he hath no portion among the people: for he himself is his portion and inheritance.

But he must have no lands in the conquered territory, no share like the rest of his race; the Lord should be his wealth, the Lord his portion.

Phinees, filius Eleazari, tertius in gloria est, imitando eum in timore Domini,

Phinees the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, by imitating him in the fear of the Lord:

Next to these two, Phinees the son of Eleazar won high renown; like Aaron, with the fear of God to guide him,

et stare in reverentia gentis: in bonitate et alacritate animæ suæ placuit Deo pro Israël.

And he stood up in the shameful fall of the people: in the goodness and readiness of his soul he appeased God for Israel.

he stood firm while the people shrank away; a loyal and a willing heart that made amends for Israel.

Ideo statuit illi testamentum pacis, principem sanctorum et gentis suæ, ut sit illi et semini ejus sacerdotii dignitas in æternum.

Therefore he made to him a covenant of peace, to be the prince of the sanctuary, and of his people, that the dignity of priesthood should be to him and to his seed for ever.

For his reward, he received assurance of the divine favour; command he should have of sanctuary and of people both, and the high priesthood that was his should descend to his heirs for ever.

Et testamentum David regi filio Jesse de tribu Juda, hæreditas ipsi et semini ejus: ut daret sapientiam in cor nostrum, judicare gentem suam in justitia, ne abolerentur bona ipsorum: et gloriam ipsorum in gentem eorum æternam fecit.

And a covenant to David the king, the son of Jesse of the tribe of Juda, an inheritance to him and to his seed, that he might give wisdom into our heart to judge his people in justice, that their good things might not be abolished, and he made their glory in their nation everlasting.

David the son of Jesse, of Juda’s tribe, should bequeath to his children a legacy of kingship …… with wise hearts endowing us, to preserve justice among his people, and keep safe the blessings he has given to it; and this pre-eminence over his people he has settled on them in perpetuity.