Sirach 47

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 After these things, Nathan the prophet arose, in the days of David.	1 After him came NATHAN who served in the presence of David.
2 And just as fat is separated from meat, so was David separated from the sons of Israel.	2 Like the choice fat of the sacred offerings, so was DAVID in Israel.
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.	3 He made sport of lions as though they were kids, and of bears, like lambs of the flock.
4 Did he not kill the giant, and take away the reproach from his people?	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.
5 By lifting up his hand, with a stone in a sling, he threw 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,
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.	6 Therefore the women sang his praises and ascribed to him tens of thousands. When he assumed the royal crown, he battled
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.	7 and subdued the enemy on every side. He destroyed the hostile Philistines and shattered their power till our own day.
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.	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;
9 In all his works, he gave thanks to the Holy One, to the Most High, with words of glory.	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
10 With all his heart, he praised the Lord and he loved God, who made him and who gave him power against his enemies.	10 So that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.
11 And he appointed singers to stand opposite the altar, and by their voices he provided sweet music.	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.
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.	12 Because of his merits he had as his successor a wise son, who lived in security:
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.	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.
14 After him, an understanding son rose up. And by means of him, he cast down all the power of the enemies.	14 How wise you were when you were young, overflowing with instruction, like the Nile in flood!
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!	15 Your understanding covered the whole earth, and, like a sea, filled it with knowledge.
16 And you were filled with wisdom like a river, and your mind exposed the world.	16 Your fame reached distant coasts, and their peoples came to hear you;
17 And you explained mysteries by means of parables. Your name became known to far off islands, and you were beloved for your peace.	17 With song and story and riddle, and with your answers, you astounded the nations.
18 The earth was in wonder over your canticles, 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;
19 and over the name of the Lord God, who is known as the God of Israel.	19 But you abandoned yourself to women and gave them dominion over your body.
20 You gathered gold like copper, and you multiplied silver like lead.	20 You brought dishonor upon your reputation, shame upon your marriage, Wrath upon your descendants, and groaning upon your domain;
21 But you bent your thigh to women, and you were held by the power of your body.	21 Thus two governments came into being, when in Ephraim kingship was usurped.
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,	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.
23 so that you would cause the kingdom to be divided, and an obstinate kingdom to rule from Ephraim.	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
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.	24 and caused them to be exiled from their land. Their sinfulness grew more and more,
25 Therefore, he left behind a remnant for Jacob and for David, from the same stock.	25 and they lent themselves to every evil,
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.