Sirach 47

1And after him Nathan arose, to stand before David.

2As the fat is set apart from the sacred offering, so was David from Israel.

3He played with young lions as with a kid, and with bears as with calves of Bashan.

4In his youth he struck down a warrior and removed everlasting disgrace; when he raised his hand with the sling, he shattered the glory of Goliath.

5For he called on God Most High, and he gave strength to his right hand, to drive back a man skilled in war and to raise up the horn of Israel.

6Therefore the daughters answered him, and acclaimed him among the myriads. When he put on the turban, he fought, and all around he subdued the foe.

7He gave cities among the Philistines, and to this day he has broken their horn.

8In all his work he gave thanks to God Most High with words of glory; with all his heart he loved his Maker, and every day he gave thanks to him with songs.

9With songs in the gardens he made preparation before the altar, and he arranged the sound of psalm and harps.

10He gave splendor, beauty, and glory to the festivals year after year; when they praised his holy name, before morning the court resounded.

11Yahweh also passed over his transgression, and exalted his horn forever; he gave him a decree of kingship, and established his throne in Jerusalem.

12Because of him there stood up after him an intelligent son, who lived in security.

13Solomon 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 sanctuary forever.

14who prepared a house for his name, and established the sanctuary forever.

15How wise you were in your youth, and instruction overflowed like the Nile.

16You covered the earth with your wisdom, and you filled the heights with song of praise.

17With song, proverb, riddle, and saying, you astounded the peoples.

18You were called by the honored name, the one invoked over Israel; and you amassed gold like iron, and multiplied silver like lead.

19You gave your strength to women, and let them rule over your body.

20You put a blemish on your honor, and profaned your bed, bringing wrath on your offspring and groaning on your couch.

21to divide the people into two tribes, and from Ephraim a lawless kingdom.

22But God will not abandon mercy, nor let any of his words fall to the ground. He will not cut off offspring and posterity from his chosen one, and he will not destroy the seed of the one who loved him.

23And he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to the house of David a root from him. And Solomon lay down with his fathers, and left behind him one of his offspring.

24A broad folly and lacking understanding was Rehoboam, who caused the people to revolt by his counsel, until one arose—may there be no remembrance of him—Jeroboam son of Nebat, who sinned and caused Israel to sin.

25He gave Ephraim a stumbling block, to drive them from their land; and his sin grew very great, and he sold himself to every evil.