David
1 After him the Lord raised Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.
2 As fat is selected from the peace offering, so David was chosen from among the Israelites.
3 He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or young goats.
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 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 they glorified him for his ten thousands and praised him as a blessing from the Lord when he was chosen king.
7 For he wiped out his enemies on all sides and annihilated his adversaries, the Philistines, crushing their power forever.
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 placed singers accompanied by harps before the altar to make beautiful music;
10 he gave splendor to feasts and even greater mag nificence 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 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.
Solomon
12 A wise son succeeded him and fared well because of him.
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 you were in your youth, Solo mon! as full of understanding as a river.
15 Your spirit covered the earth, you filled it with proverbs and parables.
16 Your reputation reached distant islands and you were loved for your peace.
17 Your songs, proverbs, parables and interpretation drew the admiration of the world.
18 In the name of the Lord God, called the God of Israel, you accumulated gold like tin and gathered silver like lead.
19 But you gave your body to women and became the slave of your senses;
20 you stained your reputation and defiled your descendants, bringing wrath and disaster upon your children because of your foolishness.
21 So the nation was divided; from Ephraim came a kingdom in revolt.
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 rem nant and allowed David’s family to survive.
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 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 were intent on doing every sort of evil until vengeance fell on them.