Nathan
1 After him, Nathan rose up to prophesy at the time of David.
David
2 Just as the fat is separated from the offering of well-being, so David was set apart from the Israelites.
3
He played with lions as if they were young goats, and with bears as if they were lambs from the flock.
4
Didn't he kill a giant in his youth and take away disgrace from the people, when he raised his hand with a stone shot from a sling and struck down the arrogant Goliath?
5
David called upon the Lord Most High, and the Lord gave strength to his strong arm to do away with a mighty warrior, to assert the power of his people.
6
For this, they glorified him in throngs of thousands. They praised him, calling down the Lord's blessings, when they brought him a glorious crown.
7
David destroyed his enemies on every side, and he despised the Philistines, his adversaries; he shattered their power, which has never recovered.
8
In everything he did, he gave thanks to 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 harps before the altar to make sweet melody with their sounds.
10
He brought dignity to the festivals, and he adorned the whole cycle of sacred seasons, as they were praising God's holy name, and from early morning the 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.
Solomon
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 house for God's name and prepare a sanctuary that would last forever.
14
How wise you were in your youth! You were filled like 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 you on 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 subdued by your own body.
20
You brought disgrace on your honor, and you polluted your offspring, so that you brought punishment upon your children and caused pain because of your foolishness.
21
Your empire became divided, and a rival kingdom sprang up out of Ephraim.
22
But the Lord will never abandon his mercy, and none of his words will perish. He will never wipe out the descendants of his chosen one, and never take away the descendants of the one who loved him. Therefore, he gave a remnant to Jacob and a root to David from his family.
Establishment of the northern kingdom
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 rebel because of his policy, led by Jeroboam, Nebat's son, who made Israel sin and set Ephraim on its sinful path.
24
Their sins increased greatly until they were removed from their land.
25
They explored every kind of wickedness until vengeance overtook them.