Given by: Jesus ben Sira (the sage), lamenting Solomon's fall among the fathers. Given to: 'my son' — the reader.

Solomon's later marriages and accommodations drew his heart toward compromise; Ben Sira reads his decline soberly, as a caution to a people prone to the same drift.

And thou didst bow thyself to women: and by thy body thou wast brought under subjection. Thou hast stained thy glory, and defiled thy seed so as to bring wrath upon thy children, and to have thy folly kindled,

Solomon, the wisest of men, stained his glory and defiled his line by giving himself to lust and compromise — a sober warning that even the wise fall.

Sirach 47:21

Your Spirit

Loves God

Loves Neighbor

Your Body

Moral Behaviour