Sirach 47

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 After him arose Nathan, to prophesy in the time of David.	1 After these things, Nathan the prophet arose, in the days of David.
2 As the fat is set apart from the communion sacrifice, so was David chosen out of the Israelites.	2 And just as fat is separated from meat, so was David separated from the sons of Israel.
3 He played with lions as though with kids, and with bears as though with lambs.	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 While stil a boy, did he not slay the giant and take away the people's shame, by hurling a stone fromhis sling and cutting short the boasting of Goliath?	4 Did he not kill the giant, and take away the reproach from his people?
5 For he cal ed on the Lord Most High, who gave strength to his right arm to put a mighty warrior to deathand assert the strength of his own people.	5 By lifting up his hand, with a stone in a sling, he threw down the boasting of Goliath.
6 Hence they gave him credit for ten thousand, and praised him while they blessed the Lord, by offeringhim a crown of glory.	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.
7 For he destroyed the enemies on every front, he annihilated his foes, the Philistines, and crushed theirstrength for ever.	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 In al his activities he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High in words of glory; he put all his heart intohis songs out of love for his Creator.	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 He placed singers before the altar, melodiously to sing;	9 In all his works, he gave thanks to the Holy One, to the Most High, with words of glory.
10 he gave the feasts their splendour, the festivals their solemn pomp, causing the Lord's holy name tobe praised and the sanctuary to resound from dawn.	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 The Lord took away his sins, making his strength ever greater; he gave him a royal covenant, and aglorious throne in Israel.	11 And he appointed singers to stand opposite the altar, and by their voices he provided sweet music.
12 A wise son succeeded him, who lived content, thanks to him.	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 Solomon reigned in a time of peace, and God gave him peace al round so that he could raise a houseto his name and prepare an everlasting sanctuary.	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 How wise you were despite your youth, like a river, brimming over with intelligence!	14 After him, an understanding son rose up. And by means of him, he cast down all the power of the enemies.
15 Your mind ranged the earth, you fil ed it with mysterious sayings.	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 Your name reached the distant islands, and you were loved for your peace.	16 And you were filled with wisdom like a river, and your mind exposed the world.
17 Your songs, your proverbs, your sayings and your answers were the wonder of 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 In the name of the Lord God, of him who is cal ed the God of Israel, you amassed gold like so muchtin, and made silver as common as lead.	18 The earth was in wonder over your canticles, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,
19 You abandoned your body to women, you became the slave of your appetites.	19 and over the name of the Lord God, who is known as the God of Israel.
20 You stained your honour, you profaned your stock, so bringing retribution on your children andaffliction for your fol y:	20 You gathered gold like copper, and you multiplied silver like lead.
21 the empire split in two, from Ephraim arose a rebel kingdom.	21 But you bent your thigh to women, and you were held by the power of your body.
22 But the Lord never goes back on his mercy, never cancels any of his words, wil neither deny offspringto his elect nor stamp out the line of the man who loved him. And hence, he has granted a remnant to Jacob andto David a root sprung from him.	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 Solomon rested with his ancestors, leaving one of his stock as his successor, the stupidest member ofthe nation, brainless Rehoboam, who drove the people to rebel.	23 so that you would cause the kingdom to be divided, and an obstinate kingdom to rule from Ephraim.
24 Next, Jeroboam son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, and set Ephraim on the way of evil; from then ontheir sins multiplied so excessively as to drive them out of their country;	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 descendents of his elect. And he will not destroy the offspring of him who loves the Lord.
25 for they tried out every kind of wickedness, until vengeance overtook them.	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.