1. After him, Nathan rose upto prophesy at the time of David.
2. Just as the fat is separatedfrom the offering of well-being,so David was set apartfrom the Israelites.
3. He played with lionsas if they were young goats,and with bearsas if they were lambs from the flock.
4. Didn’t he kill a giant in his youthand take away disgrace from the people,when he raised his hand with a stone shot from a slingand struck downthe arrogant Goliath?
5. David called upon the Lord Most High,and the Lord gave strengthto his strong armto do away with a mighty warrior,to assert the power of his people.
6. For this, they glorified himin throngs of thousands.They praised him,calling down the Lord’s blessings,when they brought hima glorious crown.
7. David destroyed his enemieson every side,and he despised the Philistines,his adversaries;he shattered their power,which has never recovered.
8. In everything he did, he gave thanksto the holy one, the Most High,with glorious words.He sang hymns with all his heart,and he loved his maker.
9. He appointed singers with harpsbefore the altarto make sweet melody with their sounds.
10. He brought dignity to the festivals,and he adorned the whole cycleof sacred seasons,as they were praising God’s holy name,and from early morningthe sanctuary resounded.
11. The Lord took away David’s sins,and he exalted his power forever.He established his kingdom by agreement;and a glorious throne in Israel.
12. After David a well-instructed son arose,and because of David,he enjoyed a large kingdom.
13. Solomon reigned at a time of peace.God gave him tranquillity on every side,so that he might build a housefor God’s nameand prepare a sanctuarythat would last forever.
14. How wise you were in your youth!You were filledlike a river with understanding.
15. Your spirit filled the earth,and you were full of puzzling proverbs.
16. Your name reached faraway islands,and you were dearly loved because of your peaceful rule.
17. Countries marveled at youon account of your songs, parables, proverbs, and teachings.
18. In the Lord God’s name,who is called God over Israel,you collected gold like tin,and you amassed silver like lead.
19. You gave yourself to women,and you were subduedby your own body.
20. You brought disgrace on your honor,and you polluted your offspring,so that you brought punishmentupon your childrenand caused painbecause of your foolishness.
21. Your empire became divided,and a rival kingdom sprang upout of Ephraim.
22. But the Lord will neverabandon his mercy,and none of his words will perish.He will never wipe outthe descendants of his chosen one,and never take away the descendantsof the one who loved him.Therefore, he gave a remnant to Jacoband a root to David from his family.
23. Solomon rested with his ancestors,and he left behind one of his offspring—Rehoboam, a foolish man among the people, one lacking understanding.He caused the people to rebelbecause of his policy,led by Jeroboam, Nebat’s son,who made Israel sinand set Ephraim on its sinful path.
24. Their sins increased greatlyuntil they were removed from their land.
25. They explored every kind of wickednessuntil vengeance overtook them.