Sirach 47

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 After him came NATHAN who served in the presence of David.	1 And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.
2 Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was DAVID in Israel.	2 As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel.
3 He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock.	3 He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.
4 As a youth he slew the giant and wiped out the people's disgrace, When his hand let fly the slingstone that crushed the pride of Goliath.	4 Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath?
5 Since he called upon the Most High God, who gave strength to his right arm To defeat the skilled warrior and raise up the might of his people,	5 For he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people.
6 Therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled	6 So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of glory.
7 and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day.	7 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this day.
8 With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung;	8 In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him.
9 He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year With string music before the altar, providing sweet melody for the psalms	9 He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.
10 So that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.	10 He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple might sound from morning.
11 The LORD forgave him his sins and exalted his strength forever; He conferred on him the rights of royalty and established his throne in Israel.	11 The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.
12 Because of his merits he had as his successor a wise son, who lived in security:	12 After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.
13 SOLOMON reigned during an era of peace, for God made tranquil all his borders. He built a house to the name of God, and established a lasting sanctuary.	13 Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.
14 How wise you were when you were young, overflowing with instruction, like the Nile in flood!	14 How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!
15 Your understanding covered the whole earth, and, like a sea, filled it with knowledge.	15 Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables.
16 Your fame reached distant coasts, and their peoples came to hear you;	16 Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.
17 With song and story and riddle, and with your answers, you astounded the nations.	17 The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.
18 You were called by that glorious name which was conferred upon Israel. Gold you gathered like so much iron, you heaped up silver as though it were lead;	18 By the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead.
19 But you abandoned yourself to women and gave them dominion over your body.	19 Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.
20 You brought dishonor upon your reputation, shame upon your marriage, Wrath upon your descendants, and groaning upon your domain;	20 Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.
21 Thus two governments came into being, when in Ephraim kingship was usurped.	21 So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom.
22 But God does not withdraw his mercy, nor permit even one of his promises to fail. He does not uproot the posterity of his chosen one, nor destroy the offspring of his friend. So he gave to Jacob a remnant, to David a root from his own family.	22 But the Lord will never leave off his mercy, neither shall any of his works perish, neither will he abolish the posterity of his elect, and the seed of him that loveth him he will not take away: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.
23 Solomon finally slept with his fathers, and left behind him one of his sons, Expansive in folly, limited in sense, REHOBOAM, who by his policy made the people rebel; Until one arose who should not be remembered, the sinner who led Israel into sin, Who brought ruin to Ephraim	23 Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had no understanding, who turned away the people through his counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin:
24 and caused them to be exiled from their land. Their sinfulness grew more and more,	24 And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land.
25 and they lent themselves to every evil,	25 For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.