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Eulogy of Simon

⁴ The land^* had rest all the days of Simon.
   He sought the good of his nation;
his rule was pleasing to them,
   as was the honour shown him, all his days.
⁵ To crown all his honours he took Joppa for a harbour,
   and opened a way to the isles of the sea.
⁶ He extended the borders of his nation,
   and gained full control of the country.
⁷ He gathered a host of captives;
   he ruled over Gazara and Beth-zur and the citadel,
and he removed its uncleanness from it;
   and there was none to oppose him.
⁸ They tilled their land in peace;
   the ground gave its increase,
   and the trees of the plains their fruit.
⁹ Old men sat in the streets;
   they all talked together of good things,
   and the youths put on splendid military attire.
¹⁰ He supplied the towns with food,
   and furnished them with the means of defence,
   until his renown spread to the ends of the earth.
¹¹ He established peace in the land,
   and Israel rejoiced with great joy.
¹² All the people sat under their own vines and fig trees,
   and there was none to make them afraid.
¹³ No one was left in the land to fight them,
   and the kings were crushed in those days.
¹⁴ He gave help to all the humble among his people;
   he sought out the law,
   and did away with all the renegades and outlaws.
¹⁵ He made the sanctuary glorious,
   and added to the vessels of the sanctuary.