Ecclesiasticus 45

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses, beloved of God and men, whose memorial is blessed.

And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found favour in the sight of all flesh, even Moses — the deliverer-lawgiver faculty, drawn out of the waters of sense to lead the house out of bondage — beloved of the Source and men, whose memorial is blessed.

2He made him like to the glorious saints, and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.

He made him like to the glorious saints — the states set apart in glory — and magnified him, so that his enemies stood in fear of him.

3By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings, and gave him a commandment for his people, and shewed him part of his glory.

By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him glorious in the sight of kings — the ruling states — and gave him a commandment for his people, and showed him part of his glory.

4He sanctified him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose him out of all men.

He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness, and chose him out of all men.

5He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob his covenants, and Israel his judgments.

He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him commandments before his face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob — the striving intellect — his covenants, and Israel — the spiritual man in whom God prevails — his judgments.

6He exalted Aaron, an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi.

He exalted Aaron — the speaking priest-faculty, Moses' voice and the first high priest of the outer order — an holy man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi, the joining faculty.

7An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory.

An everlasting covenant he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of glory — the mediating faculty clothed in the radiance of its office.

8He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.

He put upon him perfect glory; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the ephod.

9And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, 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;

And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in the temple — the established sanctuary-state — for a memorial to the children of his people;

10With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroiderer, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim;

With an holy garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroiderer, with a breastplate of judgment, and with Urim and Thummim — the lights and perfections borne over the mediating faculty's heart, kept by their names;

11With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.

With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel.

12He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness, an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

He set a crown of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved Holiness — set apart, wholly of the divine order — an ornament of honour, a costly work, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful.

13Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children’s children perpetually.

Before him there were none such, neither did ever any stranger put them on, but only his children and his children's children perpetually.

14Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually.

Their sacrifices shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually — the faculties yielded at the altar without ceasing, morning and evening, dawning and fading.

15Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.

Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil — the Spirit's substance, consecration poured upon the faculty: this was appointed unto him by an everlasting covenant, and to his seed, so long as the heavens — the inner realm — should remain, that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and bless the people in his name.

16He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the Lord, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people.

He chose him out of all men living to offer sacrifices to the indwelling LORD, incense, and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people — at-one-ment for the whole company.

17He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.

He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws.

18Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness, even the men that were of Dathan’s and Abiron’s side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath.

Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in the wilderness — the untended waste-state where the house is tested — even the men that were of Dathan's and Abiron's side, and the congregation of Core, with fury and wrath: the sense-faculties rising against the mediating faculty, their names kept as they stand.

19This the Lord saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame.

This the indwelling LORD saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful indignation were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the fiery flame — the order confronting the rebellion, and the rebellious state given over to the fire it had kindled against the order.

20But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance:

But he made Aaron more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the firstfruits of the increase; especially he prepared bread — truth-substance — in abundance:

21For they eat of the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave unto him and his seed.

For they eat of the sacrifices of the indwelling LORD, which he gave unto him and his seed — the mediating faculty fed from the very offerings it yields.

22Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance.

Howbeit in the land of the people he had no inheritance, neither had he any portion among the people: for the indwelling LORD himself is his portion and inheritance.

23The third in glory is Phinees the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the Lord, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel.

The third in glory is Phinees — Phinehas, kept by the name the text gives him — the son of Eleazar, because he had zeal in the fear of the indwelling LORD, and stood up with good courage of heart: when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel, at-one-ment for the spiritual man.

24Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:

Therefore was there a covenant of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of the sanctuary and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever:

25According to the covenant made with David son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed.

According to the covenant made with David — Beloved, Love enthroned — son of Jesse, of the tribe of Juda, Praise, that the inheritance of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the inheritance of Aaron should also be unto his seed.

26God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.

May the Source give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness — in right relation to the order — that their good things be not abolished, and that their glory may endure for ever.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.