Ben Sira - chapter 47

47: 1 - 25 (translated by Edgar Goodspeed)
After him (Samuel), Nathan arose, to prophesy in the days of David.  Just as the fat is separated from the offering, David was separated from the Israelites.  He played with lions as though they were kids, and with bears as though they were lambs of the flock.  In his youth did he not kill a giant, and relieve the people of reproach, when he lifted his hand with a stone in the sling, and brought down the boasting of Goliath?  For he called on the Lord, the Most High, and the Lord gave strength to his right hand to slay a mighty warrior, and to exalt the strength of His people.  So they lauded him for his ten thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, when the glorious diadem was brought to him.  For he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines, he crushed their strength, unto this day.  Over all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with words of praise.  He sang praise with his whole heart, and he loved his Maker.  He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices.  He gave dignity to the festivals, and set the seasons in order throughout the year, while they praised God's holy name, and the sanctuary rang with it from early morning.  The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his strength forever, and gave him the agreement about the kings, and a glorious throne in Israel.
After him (David) arose his wise son, who lived in wide borders because of him; Solomon reigned in days of peace, and God gave him rest on every side, so that he might erect a house in His name, and provide a sanctuary forever.  How wise you became in your youth, and how full of understanding, like a river!  Your soul covered the earth, and you filled it with puzzling proverbs.  Your name reached distant islands, and you were loved for your peaceful sway.  for your songs and proverbs and figures, and your expositions, the countries wondered at you.  Through the name of the Lord God, who is called the God of Israel, you gathered gold like tin, and accumulated silver like lead.  You laid your flanks beside women, and were brought into subjection by your body.  You brought a stain upon your fame, and polluted your posterity, so that you brought wrath upon your children, and they were grieved at your folly, so that the sovereignty was divided, and a disobedient kingdom arose out of Ephraim.  But the Lord will not forsake His mercy and He will not prove false to any of His words, nor will He blot out the descendants of His chosen, nor destroy the posterity of him who loved Him.  For He gave Jacob a remnant, and David a root sprung from Him.
So Solomon rested with his forefathers, and left behind him one of his own children, "the people's folly," a man wanting in understanding, Rehoboam, who by his counsel made the people revolt, and there was Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, and showed Ephraim a sinful way.  Their sins became so exceedingly many that they dislodged them from their land.  For they sought out every kind of wickedness, until vengeance should come upon them.