Ecclesiasticus, 47

1. And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.

1. After him the Lord raised Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.

2. As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel.

2. As fat is selected from the peace offering, so David was chosen from among the Israelites.

3. He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.

3. He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or young goats.

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?

4. He was still young when he slew a giant to restore the honor of his people; with a sling he aimed a stone that killed the arrogant Goliath.

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.

5. He invoked the Lord Most High, who gave him strength to slay a mighty warrior, and so exalt the power of his people.

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.

6. So they glorified him for his ten thousands and praised him as a blessing from the Lord when he was chosen king.

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.

7. For he wiped out his enemies on all sides and annihilated his adversaries, the Philistines, crushing their power forever.

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.

8. In all that he did he gave thanks to the Most High, and showed his love for his Maker by singing with all his heart.

9. He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.

9. He placed singers accompanied by harps before the altar to make beautiful music;

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.

10. he gave splendor to feasts and even greater magnificence to the more solemn occasions, exalting the holy Name of the Lord and having the sanctuary ring with his praises from early morning.

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.

11. The Lord forgave David's sins and established his power forever; he made a covenant with him for the benefit of the kings and gave him a glorious throne in Israel.

12. After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.

12. A wise son succeeded him and fared well because of him.

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.

13. Solomon reigned during times of peace, and God gave him rest from war to enable him to build a house for his Name, a sanctuary that would stand forever.

14. How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!

14. How wise you were in your youth, Solomon! as full of understanding as a river.

15. Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables.

15. Your spirit covered the earth, you filled it with proverbs and parables.

16. Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.

16. Your reputation reached distant islands and you were loved for your peace.

17. The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.

17. Your songs, proverbs, parables and interpretation drew the admiration of the world.

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.

18. In the name of the Lord God, called the God of Israel, you accumulated gold like tin and gathered silver like lead.

19. Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.

19. But you gave your body to women and became the slave of your senses;

20. Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.

20. you stained your reputation and defiled your descendants, bringing wrath and disaster upon your children because of your foolishness.

21. So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom.

21. So the nation was divided; from Ephraim came a kingdom in revolt.

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.

22. But God's mercy never fails nor does he forget his promises; he did not deprive his chosen one of descendants nor destroy the race of the one he loved. So to Jacob he gave a remnant and allowed David's family to survive.

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:

23. Solomon rested with his forefathers and left one of his sons to rule after him, the most foolish of men and without intelligence; this was Rehoboam who drove the people to rebellion.

24. And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land.

24. As for Jeroboam, son of Nebat, it was he who caused Israel to sin and taught Ephraim the way of evil. From then on their sins increased and later brought about their exile,

25. For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.

25. for they were intent on doing every sort of evil until vengeance fell on them.