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  • Sirach 47

    Nathan

    47 After him, Nathan rose up
        to prophesy at the time of David.

    David

    Just as the fat is separated
    from the offering of well-being,
        so David was set apart
        from the Israelites.
    He played with lions
    as if they were young goats,
        and with bears
        as if they were lambs from the flock.
    Didn’t he kill a giant in his youth
            and take away disgrace from the people,
        when he raised his hand with a stone shot from a sling
            and struck down
            the arrogant Goliath?
    David called upon the Lord Most High,
        and the Lord gave strength
        to his strong arm
            to do away with a mighty warrior,
            to assert the power of his people.
    For this, they glorified him
    in throngs of thousands.
        They praised him,
        calling down the Lord’s blessings,
        when they brought him
        a glorious crown.
    David destroyed his enemies
    on every side,
        and he despised the Philistines,
        his adversaries;
        he shattered their power,
        which has never recovered.
    In everything he did, he gave thanks
    to the holy one, the Most High,
    with glorious words.
        He sang hymns with all his heart,
        and he loved his maker.
    He appointed singers with harps
    before the altar
        to make sweet melody with their sounds.
    10 He brought dignity to the festivals,
        and he adorned the whole cycle
        of sacred seasons,
        as they were praising God’s holy name,
            and from early morning
            the sanctuary resounded.
    11 The Lord took away David’s sins,
        and he exalted his power forever.
    He established his kingdom by agreement;
        and a glorious throne in Israel.

    Solomon

    12 After David a well-instructed son arose,
        and because of David,
        he enjoyed a large kingdom.
    13 Solomon reigned at a time of peace.
        God gave him tranquillity on every side,
            so that he might build a house
            for God’s name
            and prepare a sanctuary
            that would last forever.
    14 How wise you were in your youth!
        You were filled
        like a river with understanding.
    15 Your spirit filled the earth,
        and you were full of puzzling proverbs.
    16 Your name reached faraway islands,
        and you were dearly loved because of your peaceful rule.
    17 Countries marveled at you
        on account of your songs, parables, proverbs, and teachings.
    18 In the Lord God’s name,
        who is called God over Israel,
            you collected gold like tin,
            and you amassed silver like lead.
    19 You gave yourself to women,
        and you were subdued
        by your own body.
    20 You brought disgrace on your honor,
        and you polluted your offspring,
            so that you brought punishment
            upon your children
            and caused pain
            because of your foolishness.
    21         Your empire became divided,
            and a rival kingdom sprang up
            out of Ephraim.
    22 But the Lord will never
    abandon his mercy,
        and none of his words will perish.
            He will never wipe out
            the descendants of his chosen one,
            and never take away the descendants
            of the one who loved him.
        Therefore, he gave a remnant to Jacob
            and a root to David from his family.

    Establishment of the northern kingdom

    23 Solomon rested with his ancestors,
        and he left behind one of his offspring—
        Rehoboam, a foolish man among the people, one lacking understanding.
        He caused the people to rebel
        because of his policy,
            led by Jeroboam, Nebat’s son,
            who made Israel sin
            and set Ephraim on its sinful path.
    24 Their sins increased greatly
        until they were removed from their land.
    25 They explored every kind of wickedness
        until vengeance overtook them.