10. He added beauty to the feastsand solemnized the seasons of each year
9b. With string music before the altar,providing sweet melody for the psalms
10b. So that when the Holy Name was praised,before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.
11. The Lord forgave him his sinsand exalted his strength forever;He conferred on him the rights of royaltyand established his throne in Israel.
12. Because of his merits he had as successora wise son, who lived in security:
13. Solomon reigned during an era of peace,for God brought rest to all his borders.He built a house to the name of God,and established a lasting sanctuary.
14. How wise you were when you were young,overflowing with instruction, like the Nile in flood!
15. Your understanding covered the whole earth,and, like a sea, filled it with knowledge.
16. Your fame reached distant coasts,and you were beloved for your peaceful reign.
17. With song and proverb and riddle,and with your answers, you astounded the nations.
18. You were called by that glorious namewhich was conferred upon Israel.Gold you gathered like so much iron;you heaped up silver as though it were lead.
19. But you abandoned yourself to womenand gave them dominion over your body.
20. You brought a stain upon your glory,shame upon your marriage bed,Wrath upon your descendants,and groaning upon your deathbed.
21. Thus two governments came into being,when in Ephraim kingship was usurped.
22. But God does not withdraw his mercy,nor permit even one of his promises to fail.He does not uproot the posterity of the chosen,nor destroy the offspring of his friends.So he gave to Jacob a remnant,to David a root from his own family.