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Ecclesiasticus
47
Then Nathan the prophet arose in the days of David.
the Lord the Almighty, and he gave strength in his right
hand, to take away the mighty warrior, and to set up
the horn of his nation.
And as the fat taken away from the flesh, so was David
chosen from among the children of Israel.
He played with lions as with lambs: and with bears he
did in like manner as with the lambs of the flock, in
his youth.
Did not he kill the giant, and take away reproach from
his people?
In lifting up his hand, with the stone in the sling
he beat down the boasting of Goliath:
For he called upoI
So in ten thousand did he glorify him, and praised him
in the blessings of the Lord, in offering to him a crown
of glory:
For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and extirpated
the Philistines the adversaries unto this day: he broke
their horn for ever.
In all his works he gave thanks to the holy one, and
to the most High, with words of glory.
With his whole heart he praised the Lord, and loved
God that made him: and he gave him power against his
enemies:
And he set singers before the altar, and by their voices
he made sweet melody.
And to the festivals he added beauty, and set in order
the solemn times even to the end of his life, that they
should praise the holy name of the Lord, and magnify
the holiness of God in the morning.
The Lord took away his sine, and exalted his horn for
ever: and he gave him a covenant of the kingdom, and
a throne of glory in Israel.
After him arose up a wise son, and for his sake he cast
down all the power of the enemies.
Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God brought all
his enemies under him, that he might build a house in
his name, and prepare a sanctuary for ever: O how wise
wast thou in thy youth!
And thou wast filled as a river with wisdom, and thy
soul covered the earth.
And thou didst multiply riddles in parables: thy name
went abroad to the islands far off, and thou wast beloved
in thy peace.
The countries wondered at thee for thy canticles, and
proverbs, and parables, and interpretations,
And at the name of the Lord God, whose surname is, God
of Israel.
Thou didst gather gold as copper, and didst multiply
silver as lead,
And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body
thou wast brought under subjection.
Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so
as to bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy
folly kindled,
That thou shouldst make the kingdom to be divided, and
out of Ephraim a rebellious kingdom to rule.
But God will not leave off his mercy, and he will not
destroy, nor abolish his own works, neither will he
out up by the roots the offspring of his elect: and
he will not utterly take away the seed of him that loveth
the Lord.
Wherefore he gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David of
the same stock.
And Solomon had an end with his fathers.
And he left behind him of his seed, the folly of the
nation,
Even Roboam that had little wisdom, who turned away
the people through his counsel:
And Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who caused Israel to
sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin, and their sins
were multiplied exceedingly.
They removed them far away from their land.
And they sought out all iniquities, till vengeance came
upon them, and put an end to all their sine. |