Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 47
Nathan
1After him came Nathan, who was a prophet at the time of David.
David
2As the choice fat portion of the fellowship offering is reserved for the Lord, so David was chosen from among the Israelites. 3He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or little goats. 4When he was still a boy, he killed a giant to rescue his people. He put a stone in his sling, took aim, and put an end to Goliath's bragging. 5He prayed to the Lord, the Most High, and was given the strength to kill that famous soldier, so that the nations would have respect for the power of his people. 6The people honoured him for killing his tens of thousands, and when he was crowned king, they praised him for being chosen by the Lord. 7He wiped out all his enemies and permanently crushed the Philistines, so that they never again became a threat.
8In everything David did, he gave thanks and praise to the Holy Lord, the Most High. He loved his Creator and sang praises to him with all his heart. 9He put singers at the altar to provide beautiful music. 10He set the times of the festivals throughout the year and made them splendid occasions; the Temple rang with the Lord's praises all day long. 11The Lord forgave David's sin and established his power for ever. He made a covenant with him that he and his descendants would reign in splendour over Israel.
Solomon
12David prepared the way well for his son, a wise man, to rule after him. 13There was no war while Solomon was king. God gave him peace on all his borders, so that he could build for the Lord a Temple which would stand for ever. 14How wise you were, Solomon, when you were young! Your knowledge was like the Nile in flood. 15Your influence reached over all the world; your proverbs and riddles were known everywhere. 16You were famous everywhere, and people loved you for bringing peace. 17Nations round the world held you in admiration for your songs, proverbs, parables, and witty sayings. 18You gathered silver and gold as if it were tin or lead, all in the name of the Lord God of Israel.
19But your lust for women was your downfall. 20You stained your reputation and that of your descendants. They suffered punishment for that foolishness of yours, which caused them so much grief. 21It divided the nation, and a rival kingdom arose in northern Israel. 22But the Lord will always be merciful and keep all his promises. He will never destroy the descendants of David, whom he chose and who loved him. So, for Israel's sake he allowed David's family to survive.
Rehoboam and Jeroboam
23Solomon followed his ancestors in death and left one of his sons to rule after him. This was Rehoboam, a man of little intelligence and great foolishness, whose policies caused a rebellion.
There was also the unspeakable Jeroboam, who led northern Israel in sinful ways. 24His people became so sinful that they were exiled from their land. 25They tried all kinds of wickedness, until the Lord took vengeance on them.
Good News Translation® with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha (Today’s English Version, Second Edition) © 1992 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
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