1 ¶ Now king David was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but he did not become warm.

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

2 T herefore, his slaves said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin, and let her stand before the king and let her warm him and let her lie in thy bosom, and she shall warm my lord the king.

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 for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel and found Abishag, a 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 A nd the damsel was very fair and warmed the king and ministered to him, but the king knew her not.

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

5 ¶ Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, I will reign, and he prepared chariots and horsemen for himself and 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 A nd his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was very handsome; and he had begotten him 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 A nd he conferred with Joab, the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar, the priest who helped Adonijah.

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, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan, the prophet, and Shimei and Rei and the mighty men of David did not follow 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 nd Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s slaves;

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 he did not invite Nathan, the prophet, nor Benaiah nor the mighty men nor Solomon his brother.

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

11 ¶ And Nathan spoke unto Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, reigns without David our lord knowing of 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 N ow, therefore, come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel that thou may deliver thine own life and the life of thy son Solomon.

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

13 G o and enter in unto King David and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon, thy 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 A nd while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I also will come in after thee and finish thy words.

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

15 A nd Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber; and the king was very old; and Abishag, the Shunammite, ministered unto the king.

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

16 A nd Bathsheba bowed and worshipped the king. And the king said, What dost thou desire?

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 unto him, My lord, thou didst sware by the LORD thy God unto thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon, thy son, shall reign after me, and he shall 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 reigns; and now, my lord the king, thou dost not know it.

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

19 H e has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance and has called all the sons of the king and Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the captain of the host; but he has not invited Solomon, thy slave.

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 A nd thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee that thou should tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

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, it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers that I and my son Solomon shall be counted as sinners.

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

22 A nd while she yet spoke 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 A nd they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan, the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king 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, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon 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 F or today he has gone down and has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance and has called all the king’s sons and the captains of the host and Abiathar, the priest; and, behold, 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 he did not invite me, thy slave, nor Zadok, the priest, nor Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, nor thy slave Solomon.

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 thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not declared unto thy slave who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

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 and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.

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

29 A nd the king swore and said, As the LORD lives, who has ransomed 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 unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon, thy 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 T hen Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and did reverence to the king and said, Let my lord King David live for ever.

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

32 ¶ And King David said, Call me Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada. And they entered into the presence of 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 A nd the king said unto them, Take with you the slaves of your lord and cause Solomon my son to ride upon 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; and ye shall blow the shofar 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 A fterward ye shall come up after him that he may come and sit upon my throne, for he shall reign in my stead, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over 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 T hen Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, answered the king and said, Amen. Let the LORD 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 let him be with Solomon and let him 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, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and 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 A nd Zadok, the priest, took the horn of the oil of the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the shofar, 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 fterward all the people came up following him, and the people sang with flutes and rejoiced with great joy so that it seemed the earth rent with the sound of them.

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 ¶ And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it when they had finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the shofar, he said, Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?

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 A nd while he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar, the priest, came; and Adonijah said unto him, Come in, for thou art a valiant man and bringest good tidings.

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 A nd Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord King David has made Solomon king.

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

44 A nd the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and 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 a nd Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have 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 A nd also Solomon has been seated on the throne of the kingdom.

Solomon sits upon the throne of the king.

47 A nd moreover, the king’s slaves came to bless our lord King David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king worshipped 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 also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, mine eyes even seeing it.

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 each one 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, fearing the presence of Solomon, arose and went and caught hold on 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, saying, Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for he has caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let King Solomon swear unto me today that he will not slay his slave 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 A nd Solomon said, If he will show himself virtuous, there shall not one hair of him fall to the ground, but if wickedness shall be 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 him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to King Solomon. And Solomon said unto him, Go to thy 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.”