Ecclesiasticus 47

How to read these pages: the text itself comes first, verse by verse, in the volume's own translation. Beneath each verse stands its Meaning — a rendering of what the passage's terms name in the inner life, drawn from the correspondences the text itself uses. The text is never altered; the meaning is offered, not imposed.

King James Version

1And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David.

And after him rose up Nathan to prophesy in the time of David — Beloved, Love enthroned: the forth-telling faculty arising in Love's reign, kept by his name.

2As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David chosen out of the children of Israel.

As is the fat taken away from the peace offering, so was David — Love enthroned, the shepherd-heart become king — chosen out of the children of Israel.

3He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs.

He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs — the untamed instincts handled by Love as gentle thoughts.

4Slew 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?

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 — the swollen sense-state boasting against the house, kept by his name?

5For 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.

For he called upon the most high indwelling LORD; and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay that mighty warrior, and set up the horn of his people — their acting strength raised.

6So 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.

So the people honoured him with ten thousands, and praised him in the blessings of the indwelling LORD, in that he gave him a crown of glory — a ruling state perfected and acknowledged, filled with the Presence.

7For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries, and brake their horn in sunder unto this day.

For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and brought to nought the Philistines his adversaries — the sense-peoples that roll through the outer life — and brake their horn in sunder unto this day.

8In 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.

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.

9He set singers also before the altar, that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.

He set singers also before the altar — Praise stationed before the point of consecration — that by their voices they might make sweet melody, and daily sing praises in their songs.

10He 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.

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 — the established sanctuary-state — might sound from morning, from the dawning of the state.

11The 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.

The indwelling LORD took away his sins — his missing of the mark — and exalted his horn for ever: he gave him a covenant of kings, and a throne of glory in Israel — the seat of ruling authority, filled with the Presence, within the spiritual man.

12After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.

After him rose up a wise son, and for his sake he dwelt at large.

13Solomon 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.

Solomon — Peace, Wisdom in its fullness building the temple — reigned in a peaceable time, and was honoured; for the Source made all quiet round about him, that he might build an house in his name, and prepare his sanctuary for ever.

14How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding!

How wise wast thou in thy youth and, as a flood, filled with understanding! — Wisdom's state at its rising, the inundation here of understanding itself.

15Thy soul covered the whole earth, and thou filledst it with dark parables.

Thy soul covered the whole earth — the whole outer life — and thou filledst it with dark parables, outer stories whose inner truth is veiled.

16Thy name went far unto the islands; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.

Thy name went far unto the islands — the far-separated states; and for thy peace thou wast beloved.

17The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.

The countries marvelled at thee for thy songs, and proverbs, and parables, and interpretations.

18By 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.

By the name of the indwelling LORD, which is called the indwelling LORD of Israel, thou didst gather gold as tin and didst multiply silver as lead.

19Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection.

Thou didst bow thy loins unto women, and by thy body thou wast brought into subjection — Wisdom divided by foreign affections, the warning the lexicon itself sets on Solomon.

20Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly.

Thou didst stain thy honour, and pollute thy seed — thy word-idea defiled: so that thou broughtest wrath upon thy children, and wast grieved for thy folly — the sense-bound state closed to the order.

21So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim ruled a rebellious kingdom.

So the kingdom was divided, and out of Ephraim — Fruitful, the second state of Increase — ruled a rebellious kingdom.

22But 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.

But the indwelling 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 loves him he will not take away: wherefore he gave a remnant — the faithful kernel preserved — unto Jacob, and out of him a root unto David.

23Thus 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:

Thus rested Solomon with his fathers, and of his seed he left behind him Roboam — Rehoboam, kept by the text's spelling — 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 showed Ephraim the way of sin — of missing the mark:

24And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land.

And their sins were multiplied exceedingly, that they were driven out of the land — the state exiled from its own consciousness by its own error.

25For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them.

For they sought out all wickedness, till the vengeance came upon them — till the settling of accounts, the disorder they chose, came upon the state that chose it; the Source does not author the evil, the state is given over to it.

Companion volume to The Why Bible — the King James Apocrypha, rendered in its spiritual meanings. First final edition, October 2026.