A reading from the first book of kings.

When Solomon was old, his wife's had turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart

was not entirely with the Lord, his God, as the heart of his father David had been.

By adoring Asarte, the goddess of the Siddians, and Malcolm, the idol of the Ammonites,

Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord.

He did not follow him unreservedly as his father David had done.

Solomon then built a high place to Shemosh, the idol of Moab, and to Molek, the idol of the Ammonites, and the hill opposite

Jerusalem. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed

to their gods. The Lord therefore became angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned

away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had

appeared to him twice. For though the Lord had for beginning him this very act of following

strange gods, Solomon had not obeyed him. So the Lord said to Solomon, since this is what

you want, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I enjoined on you,

I will deprive you of the kingdom and give it to your servant.

I will not do this during your lifetime, however, for the sake of your father David.

It is your son whom I will deprive, nor will I take away the whole kingdom.

I will leave your son one tribe for the sake of my servant David and Jerusalem which I have chosen.

The Word of the Lord.

Thank you God.

Remember us, O Lord, as your favor your people.

Blessed are they who observe Remember us, O Lord, as your favor your people.

Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just.

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