1 N ow king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.

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

2 W herefore his servants 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 cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.

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 coasts 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 cherished 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 T hen Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, 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 a very goodly man; and his mother bare 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: and they following Adonijah 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, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not 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 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 servants:

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, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

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

11 W herefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?

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 mayest save 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 get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth 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 thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm 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 did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?

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 swarest by the Lord thy God unto thine 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 reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:

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

19 A nd he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.

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 shouldest 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 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 A nd, lo, while she yet talked 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 he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath 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, God save 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, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.

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 shewed it unto thy servant, 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 sware, and said, As the Lord liveth, that hath 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 sware 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 A nd king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the 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 also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine 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 blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save 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 ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and 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 A nd Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: 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 hath been with my lord the king, even so be he 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, 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 an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save 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 nd all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that 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 A nd Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore 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 spake, 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 hath made Solomon king.

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

44 A nd the king hath 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 thence 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 sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.

Solomon sits upon the throne of the king.

47 A nd moreover the king's servants 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 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 also thus said the king, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, 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 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 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 feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me today 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 A nd Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: 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 thine 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.”