Sirach 47

47And moreover after him stood up Nathan,

To servein the presence of David.

For as the fat is separatedfrom the offering,

So was David ⁽separated⁽ from Israel.

He played with lions as with kids,

And with bears as with calves of Bashan.

In his youth he slew the giant,

And took away the reproach from the people,

When he swung his hand with the sling,

And broke the pride of Goliath.

For he called unto God Most High,

And He gave strength to his right hand,

So that he struck downthe hero versed in war,

And exalted the horn of his people.

Therefore the daughters sang of him,

And honoured him with: ‘^[Slayer^[ of ten thousand’.

When he had put on the diadem he fought,

And subdued the enemies on all sides,

And plundered the Philistine cities,

And broke their horn unto this day.

In all that he didhe gave thanks

Unto God Most Highwith words of glory.

With his whole heart he loved his Maker,

And sang praise every day continually.

Music of stringed instruments he ordained before the altar,

And set the singing of psalms to harps.

He gave comeliness to the feasts,

And set in order the seasons throughout the year

For that he gave praise Holy Name;

Before morning the sanctuary resounded ⁽therewith⁽.

Jahveh also,

And lifted up his horn for ever.

Also He gave to him the decree of the kingdom,

And established his throne over Israel.

And for his sake there stood up after him

A wise son who dwelt in safety.

Solomon reigned in days of peace,

And God gave him rest round about,

Who prepared a house for His name,

And set up a sanctuary for ever.

How wise wast thou in thy youth,

And didst overflow like the Nile with instruction!

Thou didst cover the earth with thy soul,

And didst gather parables like the sea.

Thy name reached unto the isles afar off,

And they listened for the report of thee.

By thy songs, parables, dark speeches,

And satires thou didst cause astonishment to the peoples.

Thou wast called by the glorious name

Which is called over Israel.

Thou didst heap up gold like tin,

And abundance of silver like lead.

But thou gavest thy loins unto women,

And didst give them to rule over thy body.

Yea, thou broughtest a blemish upon thine honour,

And didst defile thy bed,

So as to bring wrath upon thy progeny,

And sighing concerning thy bed;

So the people became two sceptres,

And out of Ephraim ⁽arose⁽ a sinful kingdom.

Nevertheless God did not forsake His mercy,

Nor did He suffer any of His words to fall to the ground.

He will not cut off the posterity of His chosen,

Nor will He destroy the offspring of them that love Him;

And He will give to Jacob a remnant,

And to the house of David a root from him.

And Solomon sleptin Jerusalem,

And left after him one that was overbearing.

Great in folly and lacking in understanding

⁽Was⁽ he who by his counsel made the people revolt.

And ⁽then⁽ he arose—of him let there be no memorial

Who sinned and made Israel to sin,

And put a stumbling-block ⁽in the way⁽ of Ephraim,

To drive them from their land;

And their sin became very great,

And they sold themselves to ⁽do⁽ all manner of evil.