1 And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.
2 As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel.
3 He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.
4 Slew he not a giant, when he was yet but young? and did he not take away reproach from the people, when he lifted up his hand with the stone in the sling, and beat down the boasting of Goliath?
5 For he called upon the most high Lord; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people.
6 So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the Lord, in that he gave him a crown of glory.
7 For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this day.
8 In all his works he praised the Holy One most high with words of glory; with his whole heart he sung songs, and loved him that made him.
9 He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.
10 He beautified their feasts, and set in order the solemn times until the end, that they might praise his holy name, and that the temple might sound from morning.
11 The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel.
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 honoured; for God made all quiet round about him, that he might build an 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 filledst it with dark parables.
16 Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.
17 The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.
18 By the name of the Lord God, which is called the Lord God of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead.
19 Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.
20 Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest 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: wherefore he gave a remnant unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.
23 Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam, even the foolishness of the people, and one that had no understanding, who turned away the people through his counsel. There was also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin, and shewed Ephraim the way of sin:
24 And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land.
25 For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.
Nathan
1 After him came Nathan, who was a prophet at the time of David.
David
2 As the choice fat portion of the fellowship offering is reserved for the Lord, so David was chosen from among the Israelites. 3 He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or little goats. 4 When he was still a boy, he killed a giant to rescue his people. He put a stone in his sling, took aim, and put an end to Goliath's bragging. 5 He prayed to the Lord, the Most High, and was given the strength to kill that famous soldier, so that the nations would have respect for the power of his people. 6 The people honored him for killing his tens of thousands, and when he was crowned king, they praised him for being chosen by the Lord. 7 He wiped out all his enemies and permanently crushed the Philistines, so that they never again became a threat.
8 In everything David did, he gave thanks and praise to the Holy Lord, the Most High. He loved his Creator and sang praises to him with all his heart. 9 He put singers at the altar to provide beautiful music. 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 forever. He made a covenant with him that he and his descendants would reign in splendor over Israel.
Solomon
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 forever. 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 around 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.
Rehoboam and Jeroboam
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. 25 They tried all kinds of wickedness until the Lord took vengeance on them.