Sirach 47

Sirach 47

Nathan

1After him Nathan rose up[#2 Sam 7.1–17; 12.1–15]

to prophesy in the days of David.

David

2As the fat is set apart from the offering of well-being,[#Lev 3.3; 1 Sam 16.11–13; Sir 35.2]

so David was set apart from the Israelites.

3He played with lions as though they were young goats[#1 Sam 17.34–36]

and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock.

4In his youth did he not kill a giant[#1 Sam 17.49–51]

and take away the people’s disgrace,

when he whirled the stone in the sling

and struck down the boasting Goliath?

5For he called on the Lord, the Most High,[#1 Sam 2.1]

and he gave strength to his right arm

to strike down a mighty warrior

and to exalt the power of his people.

6So they glorified him for the tens of thousands[#1 Sam 18.7]

and praised him for the blessings bestowed by the Lord,

when the glorious diadem was given to him.

7For he wiped out his enemies on every side[#1 Sam 2.1; 2 Sam 5.7, 25; 8.1–14; 10.19]

and scorned his adversaries the Philistines;

he crushed their power to our own day.

8In all that he did he gave thanks[#2 Sam 23.1–7]

to the Holy One, the Most High, proclaiming his glory;

he sang praise with all his heart,

and he loved his Maker.

9He placed singers before the altar,[#1 Chr 16.4; Sir 50.18]

to make sweet melody with their voices.

10He gave beauty to the festivals

and arranged their times throughout the year,

while they praised God’s holy name

and the sanctuary resounded from early morning.

11The Lord took away his sins[#1 Sam 2.1; 2 Sam 7.12; 12.13]

and exalted his power forever;

he gave him a covenant of kingship

and a glorious throne in Israel.

Solomon

12After him a wise son rose up

who because of him lived in security:

13Solomon reigned in an age of peace,[#1 Kings 4.24, 25; 5.4, 5]

because God gave him rest all around,

so that he might build a house in his name

and provide a sanctuary to stand forever.

14How wise you were when you were young![#1 Kings 4.29, 30; Prov 18.4; Wis 8.10]

You overflowed like the Nile with understanding.

15Your influence spread throughout the earth,[#Sir 39.3]

and you filled it with proverbs having deep meaning.

16Your fame reached to far-off islands,[#1 Kings 4.34; 10.1]

and you were loved for your peaceful reign.

17For your songs, proverbs, parables,[#1 Kings 4.31–34]

and understanding the nations marveled at you.

18In the name of the Lord God,[#1 Kings 10.22, 27]

who is called the God of Israel,

you gathered gold like tin

and amassed silver like lead.

19But you brought in women to lie at your side,[#1 Kings 11.1–3]

and through your body you were brought into subjection.

20You stained your honor

and defiled your family line,

so that you brought wrath upon your children,

and they were grieved at your folly,

21because the sovereignty was divided[#1 Kings 11.26; 12.15–17]

and a rebel kingdom arose out of Ephraim.

22But the Lord will never give up his mercy[#2 Sam 7.15; Ps 89.33]

or cause any of his words to perish;

he will never blot out the descendants of his chosen one

or destroy the family line of him who loved him.

So he gave a remnant to Jacob

and to David a root from his own family.

Rehoboam and Jeroboam

23Solomon rested with his ancestors[#1 Kings 11.43; 12.8, 28; Sir 10.3]

and left behind him one of his sons

broad in folly and lacking in sense,

Rehoboam, whose policy drove the people to revolt.

Then Jeroboam son of Nebat led Israel into sin

and started Ephraim on its sinful ways.

24Their sins increased more and more[#2 Kings 17.6, 18]

until they were exiled from their land.

25For they sought out every kind of wickedness

until vengeance came upon them.

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Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ