Ben Sira 47:12-22

12 After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.
13 Solomon reigned in a peaceable time, and was honored; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build a house in His name, and prepare His sanctuary for ever.
14 How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!
15 Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filled it with dark parables.
16 Thy name went far unto the islands, and for thy peace thou wast beloved.
17 The countries marveled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.
18 By the name of the Lord God, who is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead.
19 Nonetheless thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.
20 Thou didst stain thy honor and pollute thy seed, so that thou brought wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.
21 So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom.
22 But the Lord will never leave off His mercy, neither shall any of His works perish, neither will He abolish the posterity of His elect, and the seed of him that loveth Him He will not take away. Therefore He gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.