God's New Bible

The Book of Jesus Sirach

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 47 -

The praise of Nathan, of David, and of Solomon: Of his fall and punishment.

1
After these things, Nathan the prophet arose, in the days of David.
2
And just as fat is separated from meat, so was David separated from the sons of Israel.
3
He played with lions, as if with lambs, and he acted similarly with bears, as if they were lambs of the flock, in his youth.
4
Did he not kill the giant, and take away the reproach from his people?
5
By lifting up his hand, with a stone in a sling, he threw down the boasting of Goliath.
6
For he called upon the Almighty Lord, and he swore with his right hand to take away the mighty man of war, and to exalt the horn of his people.(a)
7
So he glorified him amid ten thousand, and he praised him with the blessings of the Lord, by offering him a crown of glory.
8
For he crushed the enemies on every side, and he eradicated his adversaries, the Philistines, even to this day. He broke their horn, even for all time.
9
In all his works, he gave thanks to the Holy One, to the Most High, with words of glory.
10
With all his heart, he praised the Lord and he loved God, who made him and who gave him power against his enemies.
11
And he appointed singers to stand opposite the altar, and by their voices he provided sweet music.
12
And he provided beauty for the celebrations, and he gave order to the times, even until the end of his life, so that they would praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the sanctity of God, from early morning.
13
The Lord purged his sins, and he exalted his horn forever. And he gave him the covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel.
14
After him, an understanding son rose up. And by means of him, he cast down all the power of the enemies.
15
Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God subjected all his enemies to him, so that he might build a house in his name, and prepare a sanctuary for all time. O how well-taught you were in your youth!
16
And you were filled with wisdom like a river, and your mind exposed the world.
17
And you explained mysteries by means of parables. Your name became known to far off islands, and you were beloved for your peace.
18
The earth was in wonder over your canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,
19
and over the name of the Lord God, who is known as the God of Israel.
20
You gathered gold like copper, and you multiplied silver like lead.
21
But you bent your thigh to women, and you were held by the power of your body.
22
You brought a stain upon your glory, and you profaned your seed, so as to bring wrath upon your children, and to incite your foolishness,
23
so that you would cause the kingdom to be divided, and an obstinate kingdom to rule from Ephraim.
24
But God will not abandon his mercy, nor will he corrupt or abolish his own works. And he will not perish the stock of the descendants of his elect. And he will not destroy the offspring of him who loves the Lord.
25
Therefore, he left behind a remnant for Jacob and for David, from the same stock.
26
And Solomon had his end with his fathers.
27
And he left behind himself some of his offspring, as the folly of the nation:
28
both Rehoboam, who had little prudence, and who turned away the people by his counsel,
29
and Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and who provided a way of sin to Ephraim. And their sins were multiplied exceedingly.
30
They thoroughly turned them away from their own land.
31
And they sought every kind of wickedness, even until punishment overwhelmed them, and freed them from every kind of sin.

Footnotes

(a)47:6 The expression ‘dedit in dextera eius’ means to swear an oath by raising one’s right hand. Compare 1 Maccabees 11:62.(Conte)

The praise of Nathan, of David, and of Solomon: Of his fall and punishment.

1
After him, Nathan rose up to prophesy in the days of David.
2
As is the fat when it is separated from the peace offering, so was David separated from the children of Israel.
3
He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs of the flock.
4
In his youth didn’t he kill a giant, and take away reproach from the people when he lifted up his hand with a sling stone, and beat down the boasting Goliath?
5
For he called upon the Most High Lord, and he gave him strength in his right hand to kill a man mighty in war, to exalt the horn of his people.
6
So they glorified him for his tens of thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, in that a glorious diadem was given to him.
7
For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and defeated the Philistines his adversaries. He broke their horn in pieces to this day.
8
In every work of his he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High with words of glory. He sang praise with his whole heart, and loved him who made him.
9
He set singers before the altar, to make sweet melody by their music.(a)
10
He gave beauty to the feasts, and set in order the seasons to completion while they praised his holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning.
11
The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn forever. He gave him a covenant of kings, and a glorious throne in Israel.
12
After him a wise son rose up, who because of him lived in security.
13
Solomon reigned in days of peace. God gave him rest all around, that he might set up a house for his name, and prepare a sanctuary forever.
14
How wise you were made in your youth, and filled as a river with understanding!
15
Your influence covered the earth, and you filled it with parables and riddles.
16
Your name reached to the far away islands, and you were loved for your peace.
17
For your songs, proverbs, parables, and interpretations, the countries marveled at you.
18
By 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 bowed your loins to women, and in your body you were brought into subjection.
20
You blemished your honor, and defiled your offspring, to bring wrath upon your children. I was grieved for your folly,
21
because the sovereignty was divided, and a disobedient kingdom ruled out of Ephraim.
22
But the Lord will never forsake his mercy. He won’t destroy any of his works, nor blot out the posterity of his elect. He won’t take away the offspring him who loved him. He gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David a root from his own family.
23
So Solomon rested with his fathers. Of his offspring, he left behind him Rehoboam, the foolishness of the people, and one who lacked understanding, who made the people revolt by his counsel. Also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, and gave a way of sin to Ephraim.
24
Their sins were multiplied exceedingly, until they were removed from their land.
25
For they sought out all manner of wickedness, until vengeance came upon them.

Footnotes

(a)47:9 The remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.