Sirach 47

1 After Samuel, Nathan arose to prophesy in the days of David.

2 As fat is set apart from a sacrifice of well-being, so David was chosen from Israel’s children.

3 He played with lions as though they were young goats and with bears as though they were lambs.

4 Did he not kill a giant while still young and remove the people’s disgrace when he raised his hand with a slingstone and struck down Goliath’s boast?

5 He called on the Lord Most High, who gave strength to his right hand to bring down a mighty warrior and raise up the horn of his people.

6 So the people glorified him among tens of thousands and praised him with the Lord’s blessings when a glorious crown was placed on him.

7 He wiped out the enemies on every side, brought his Philistine adversaries to nothing, and shattered their horn to this day.

8 In everything he did he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High with words of glory. With his whole heart he sang praise and loved the one who made him.

9 He stationed singers before the altar so that their voices would make the melodies sweet.

10 He gave splendor to the festivals and arranged the appointed times to perfection, so that they would praise God’s holy name and the holy place would resound from morning onward.

11 The Lord took away his sins, raised up his horn forever, and gave him a royal covenant and a glorious throne in Israel.

12 After him a wise son arose, and because of David, he lived in security.

13 Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God gave him rest on every side so that he might build a house for his name and prepare a holy place forever.

14 How wise you were in your youth, filled with understanding like a river!

15 Your soul covered the earth, and you filled it with riddling parables.

16 Your name reached distant islands, and you were loved because of your peace.

17 Countries marveled at you for your songs, proverbs, parables, and interpretations.

18 In the name of the Lord God, who is called the God of Israel, you gathered gold like tin and multiplied silver like lead.

19 You bent your body toward women and let your body come under their power.

20 You stained your glory and defiled your offspring, bringing wrath on your children and grief because of your foolishness.

21 The kingdom was divided, and a rebellious kingdom began to rule from Ephraim.

22 Yet the Lord will never abandon his mercy or let any of his promises fail. He will not erase the descendants of his chosen one or remove the offspring of the one who loved him. He gave Jacob people who remained and gave David a root from his line.

23 Solomon rested with his ancestors and left behind Rehoboam from his offspring—the foolishness of the people, a man lacking understanding, who turned the people away by his counsel.

24 Jeroboam son of Nebat led Israel into sin and gave Ephraim a path of sin. Their sins multiplied greatly until they were driven from their land.

25 They sought out every kind of wickedness until vengeance came upon them.