Sirach
As found in the Greek Septuagint
GNB
Chapter 47
The Glory of God in History (continued from chapter 44)
Sirach 47:1 After came Nathan, who was a prophet at the time of David.
Sirach 47:2 As the choice fat portion of the fellowship offering is reserved for the Lord, so David was chosen from among the Israelites.
Sirach 47:3 He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or little goats.
Sirach 47:4 When he was still a boy, he killed a giant to rescue his people. He put a stone in his sling, took aim, and put and end to Goliath's bragging.
Sirach 47:5 He 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.
Sirach 47:6 The people honored him for killing his tens of thousands, and when he was crowned king, they praised him for being chosen by the Lord.
Sirach 47:7 He wiped out all his enemies and permanently crushed the Philistines, so that they never again became a threat.
Sirach 47:8 In 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.
Sirach 47:9 He put singers at the altar to provide beautiful music.
Sirach 47:10 He 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.
Sirach 47:11 The Lord forgave David's sin and established his power forever. He made a covenant with him that he and his descendants would reign in splendor over Israel.
Sirach 47:12 David prepared the way well for his son, a wise man, to rule after him.
Sirach 47:13 There 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 forever.
Sirach 47:14 How wise you were, Solomon, when you were young! Your knowledge was like the Nile in flood.
Sirach 47:15 Your influence reached over all the world; your proverbs and riddles were known everywhere.
Sirach 47:16 You were famous everywhere, and people loved you for bringing peace.
Sirach 47:17 Nations around the world held you in admiration for your songs, proverbs, parables, and witty sayings.
Sirach 47:18 You gathered silver and gold as if it were tin or lead, all in the name of the Lord God of Israel.
Sirach 47:19 But your lust for women was your downfall.
Sirach 47:20 You stained your reputation and that of your descendants. They suffered punishment for that foolishness of yours, which caused them so much grief.
Sirach 47:21 It divided the nation, and a rival kingdom arose in northern Israel.
Sirach 47:22 But 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.
Sirach 47:23 Solomon 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.
Sirach 47:24 His people became so sinful that they were exiled from their land.
Sirach 47:25 They tried all kinds of wickedness until the Lord took vengeance on them.