Sirach 47

¹After these things, Nathan the prophet arose, in the days of David

²And just as fat is separated from meat, so was David separated from the sons of Israel

³He played with lions, as if with lambs, and he acted similarly with bears, as if they were lambs of the flock, in his youth

⁴Did he not kill the giant, and take away the reproach from his people

⁵By lifting up his hand, with a stone in a sling, he threw down the boasting of Goliath

⁶For he called upon the Almighty Lord, and he swore with his right hand to take away the mighty man of war, and to exalt the horn of his people

⁷So he glorified him amid ten thousand, and he praised him with the blessings of the Lord, by offering him a crown of glory

⁸For he crushed the enemies on every side, and he eradicated his adversaries, the Philistines, even to this day. He broke their horn, even for all time

⁹In all his works, he gave thanks to the Holy One, to the Most High, with words of glory

¹⁰With all his heart, he praised the Lord and he loved God, who made him and who gave him power against his enemies

¹¹And he appointed singers to stand opposite the altar, and by their voices he provided sweet music

¹²And he provided beauty for the celebrations, and he gave order to the times, even until the end of his life, so that they would praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the sanctity of God, from early morning

¹³The Lord purged his sins, and he exalted his horn forever. And he gave him the covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel

¹⁴After him, an understanding son rose up. And by means of him, he cast down all the power of the enemies

¹⁵Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God subjected all his enemies to him, so that he might build a house in his name, and prepare a sanctuary for all time. O how well-taught you were in your youth

¹⁶And you were filled with wisdom like a river, and your mind exposed the world

¹⁷And you explained mysteries by means of parables. Your name became known to far off islands, and you were beloved for your peace

¹⁸The earth was in wonder over your canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations

¹⁹and over the name of the Lord God, who is known as the God of Israel

²⁰You gathered gold like copper, and you multiplied silver like lead

²¹But you bent your thigh to women, and you were held by the power of your body

²²You brought a stain upon your glory, and you profaned your seed, so as to bring wrath upon your children, and to incite your foolishness

²³so that you would cause the kingdom to be divided, and an obstinate kingdom to rule from Ephraim

²⁴But God will not abandon his mercy, nor will he corrupt or abolish his own works. And he will not perish the stock of the descendents of his elect. And he will not destroy the offspring of him who loves the Lord

²⁵Therefore, he left behind a remnant for Jacob and for David, from the same stock

²⁶And Solomon had his end with his fathers

²⁷And he left behind himself some of his offspring, as the folly of the nation

²⁸both Rehoboam, who had little prudence, and who turned away the people by his counsel

²⁹and Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and who provided a way of sin to Ephraim. And their sins were multiplied exceedingly

³⁰They thoroughly turned them away from their own land

³¹And they sought every kind of wickedness, even until punishment overwhelmed them, and freed them from every kind of sin