10. He set the times of the festivals throughout the year and made them splendid occasions; the Temple rang with the Lord's praises all day long.
11. The Lord forgave David's sin and established his power for ever. He made a covenant with him that he and his descendants would reign in splendour over Israel.
12. David prepared the way well for his son, a wise man, to rule after him.
13. There was no war while Solomon was king. God gave him peace on all his borders, so that he could build for the Lord a Temple which would stand for ever.
14. How wise you were, Solomon, when you were young! Your knowledge was like the Nile in flood.
15. Your influence reached over all the world; your proverbs and riddles were known everywhere.
16. You were famous everywhere, and people loved you for bringing peace.
17. Nations round the world held you in admiration for your songs, proverbs, parables, and witty sayings.
18. You gathered silver and gold as if it were tin or lead, all in the name of the Lord God of Israel.
19. But your lust for women was your downfall.
20. You stained your reputation and that of your descendants. They suffered punishment for that foolishness of yours, which caused them so much grief.
21. It divided the nation, and a rival kingdom arose in northern Israel.
22. But the Lord will always be merciful and keep all his promises. He will never destroy the descendants of David, whom he chose and who loved him. So, for Israel's sake he allowed David's family to survive.
23. Solomon followed his ancestors in death and left one of his sons to rule after him. This was Rehoboam, a man of little intelligence and great foolishness, whose policies caused a rebellion.There was also the unspeakable Jeroboam, who led northern Israel in sinful ways.
24. His people became so sinful that they were exiled from their land.