1 A nd King David was old and advanced in years; they covered him with clothes, but he could not get warm.

Now King David was old. He had lived many years. They covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.

2 S o his servants '> physicians] said to him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her wait on and be useful to the king; let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may get warm.

So his servants said to him, “Let a young woman who has never had a man be found for my lord the king. Let her help the king and become his nurse. And let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.”

3 S o they sought a fair maiden through all the territory of Israel and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

So they looked through all the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and found Abishag the Shunammite. And they brought her to the king.

4 T he maiden was beautiful; and she waited on and nursed him. But the king had no intercourse with her.

The girl was very beautiful. She became the king’s nurse and helped him. But the king did not have sex with her.

5 T hen Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king. And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him.

Now Haggith’s son Adonijah honored himself, saying, “I will be king.” So he made war-wagons and horsemen ready for himself, with fifty men to run in front of him.

6 D avid his father had never in his life displeased him by asking, Why have you done so? He was also a very attractive man and was born after Absalom.

His father had never troubled him at any time by asking, “Why have you done this?” He was a very good-looking man also, and was born next after Absalom.

7 H e conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed Adonijah and helped him.

He spoke with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the religious leader. And they followed Adonijah and helped him.

8 B ut Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men did not side with Adonijah.

But Zadok the religious leader, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the man of God, Shimei, Rei, and David’s strong men, were not with Adonijah.

9 A donijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatlings by the Stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah.

Adonijah killed sheep and cattle and fat animals by the stone of Zoheleth, beside En-rogel. He asked all his brothers, the king’s sons and all the king’s men of Judah to come.

10 B ut Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother he did not invite.

But he did not ask Nathan the man of God, Benaiah, the strong men or his brother Solomon to come.

11 T hen Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, reigns and David our lord does not know it?

Then Nathan said to Solomon’s mother Bathsheba, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

12 C ome now, let me advise you how to save your own life and your son Solomon’s.

So now come, let me give you words of wisdom and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.

13 G o to King David and say, Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then does Adonijah reign?

Go to King David and say to him, ‘My lord, O king, have you not promised your woman servant, saying, “For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

14 B ehold, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.

While you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and tell him your words are true.”

15 S o Bathsheba went in to the king in his chamber. Now the king was very old and feeble, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to.

So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was helping him.

16 B athsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king. The king said, What do you wish?

Bathsheba put her face to the ground in front of the king. And the king said, “What do you wish?”

17 A nd she said to him, My lord, you swore by the Lord your God to your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me and sit upon my throne.

She said to him, “My lord, you promised your woman servant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘For sure your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne.’

18 A nd now, behold, Adonijah is reigning, and, my lord the king, you do not know it.

Now, see, Adonijah is king. And my lord the king, you do not know it.

19 H e has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite Solomon your servant.

He has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king’s sons and Abiathar the religious leader and Joab the captain of the army to come. But he has not asked your servant Solomon to come.

20 N ow, my lord O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after you.

Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you. They are waiting for you to tell them who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 O therwise, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, I and my son Solomon shall be counted as offenders.

Or else as soon as my lord the king is dead, I and my son Solomon will be thought of as wrong-doers.”

22 W hile she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.

While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the man of God came in.

23 T he king was told, Here is Nathan the prophet. And when he came before the king, he bowed himself before him with his face to the ground.

They told the king, “Here is Nathan who speaks for God.” When Nathan came in front of the king, he put his face to the ground.

24 A nd Nathan said, My lord the king, have you said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?

Then Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah will be king after me, and he will sit on my throne’?

25 H e has gone this day and sacrificed oxen, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and they eat and drink before him and say, Long live King Adonijah!

For he has gone down today and has killed many cattle and sheep and fat animals. He has asked all the king’s sons and the captains of the army and Abiathar the religious leader to come. They are eating and drinking with him, and are saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

26 B ut me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited.

But he has not asked me your servant, Zadok the religious leader, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon, to come.

27 I s this done by my lord the king and you have not shown your servants who shall succeed my lord the king?

Has this been done by my lord the king? Have you not shown your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” David Makes Solomon King

28 T hen King David answered, Call Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came and stood in front of the king.

29 A nd the king took an oath and said, As the Lord lives, Who has redeemed my soul out of all distress,

The king made a promise and said, “As the Lord lives, Who has saved me from all trouble,

30 E ven as I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead—even so will I certainly do this day.

I promised you by the Lord the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me. He will sit on my throne in my place.’ And I will even do so this day.”

31 B athsheba bowed with her face to the ground and did obeisance to the king and said, Let my lord King David live forever!

Bathsheba put her face to the ground in front of the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever.”

32 K ing David said, Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.

Then King David said, “Call to me Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came to the king.

33 T he king told them, Take the servants of your lord and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule and bring him down to Gihon.

The king said to them, “Take the servants of your lord with you. Have my son Solomon go on my own horse. And bring him down to Gihon.

34 A nd let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, Long live King Solomon!

Let Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God set him apart there as king over Israel. Sound the horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

35 T hen you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my stead; I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.

Then come up after him. He will come and sit on my throne and be king in my place. For I have chosen him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 A nd Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so too.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Let it be so! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say so!

37 A s the Lord has been with my lord the king, even so may He be with Solomon and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.

May the Lord be with Solomon as He has been with my lord the king. May He make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

38 S o Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and caused Solomon to ride upon King David’s mule and brought him to Gihon.

So Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down to Gihon. And they brought Solomon with them, on King David’s horse.

39 Z adok the priest took a horn of oil out of the tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet and all the people said, Long live King Solomon!

There Zadok the religious leader took the horn of oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon. Then they sounded the horn and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!”

40 A ll the people followed him; they played on pipes and rejoiced greatly, so that the earth with the joyful sound.

And all the people went up after him. They were playing music and were filled with joy. The earth shook with all the noise.

41 A nd Adonijah and all the guests with him heard it as they finished feasting. When Joab heard the trumpet sound, he said, What does this uproar in the city mean?

Adonijah and all who had been asked to be with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said, “Why is there such a noise in the city?”

42 W hile he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, Come in, for you are a trustworthy man and bring good news.

While he was still speaking, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the religious leader came. Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a man to be trusted, and bring good news.”

43 J onathan replied, Adonijah, truly our lord King David has made Solomon king!

But Jonathan said to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

44 T he king has sent him with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king’s mule.

The king has sent with him Zadok the religious leader, Nathan the man of God, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they have made him travel on the king’s horse.

45 Z adok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; they have come up from there rejoicing, so the city resounds. This is the noise you heard.

Zadok the religious leader and Nathan the man of God have set him apart as king in Gihon. They have come up from there filled with joy, so there is much noise in the city. This is the noise you have heard.

46 S olomon sits on the royal throne.

Solomon sits upon the throne of the king.

47 M oreover, the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, May God make the name of Solomon better than your name and make his throne greater than your throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed

What is more, the king’s servants came to give honor to our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!’ And the king put his face down upon the bed.

48 A nd said, Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has granted me to see one of my offspring sitting on my throne this day.

The king said, ‘Thanks be to the Lord, the God of Israel. He has given one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.’”

49 A nd all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid and rose up and went every man his way.

Then all those with Adonijah were filled with fear. Each of them got up and went his own way.

50 A nd Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose and went and caught hold of the horns of the altar.

And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon. He got up and went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

51 A nd it was told Solomon, Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has caught hold of the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

Solomon was told, “See, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon. See, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon promise me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

52 S olomon said, If he will show himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.

Solomon said, “If he will be a man of worth, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground. But if he is found to be bad, he will die.”

53 S o King Solomon sent, and they brought Adonijah down from the altar. He came and bowed himself to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, Go to your house.

So King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. Adonijah came and put his face to the ground in front of King Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”