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The Book of Jesus Sirach

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 47 -

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

1
Then Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David.
2
And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David chosen from among the children of Israel.
3
He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he did in like manner as with the lambs of the flock, in his youth.
4
Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from his people?
5
In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling he beat down the boasting of Goliath:
6
For he called upon the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in his right hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up the horn of his nation.
7
So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown of glory:
8
For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated the Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke their horn for ever.
9
In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and to the most High, with words of glory.
10
With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved God that made him: and he gave him power against his enemies:
11
And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices he made sweet melody.
12
And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order the solemn times even to the end of his life, that they should praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify the holiness of God in the morning.
13
The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: and he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and a throne of glory in Israel.
14
After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast down all the power of the enemies.
15
Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all his enemies under him, that he might build a house in his name, and prepare a sanctuary for ever: O how wise wast thou in thy youth!
16
And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy soul covered the earth.
17
And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved in thy peace.
18
The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,
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And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God of Israel.
20
Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply silver as lead,
21
And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast brought under subjection.
22
Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled,
23
That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and out of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.
24
But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not destroy, nor abolish his own works, neither will he out up by the roots the offspring of his elect: and he will not utterly take away the seed of him that loveth the Lord.
25
Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of the same stock.
26
And Solomon had an end with his fathers.
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And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the nation,
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Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away the people through his counsel:
29
And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins were multiplied exceedingly.
30
They removed them far away from their land.
31
And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came upon them, and put an end to all their sins.

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.
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