1 N ow King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.

Now king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm.

2 S o his servants said to him, “Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.”

Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.”

3 S o they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 T he girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.

5 N ow Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6 H is father had never crossed him at any time by asking, “Why have you done so?” And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.

His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.

7 H e had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him.

He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him.

8 B ut Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 A donijah sacrificed sheep and 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 men of Judah, the king’s servants.

Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants;

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

but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

11 T hen Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it ?

Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it?

12 S o now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.

Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life, and your son Solomon’s life.

13 G o at once to King David and say to him, ‘Have you not, my lord, O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, “ Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

Go in to king David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord, king, swear to your servant, saying, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?” Why then does Adonijah reign?’

14 “ Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

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

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

Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.

16 T hen Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, “What do you wish?”

Bathsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”

17 S he said to him, “My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the Lord your God, saying, ‘ Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.’

She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Yahweh your God to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’

18 N ow, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it.

Now, behold, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it.

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

He has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant.

20 A s for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 O therwise it will come about, as soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders.”

Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”

22 B ehold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

Behold, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

23 T hey told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.

They told the king, saying, “Behold, Nathan the prophet!” When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

24 T hen Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne’?

Nathan said, “My lord, king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’

25 F or he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘ Long live King Adonijah!’

For he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live king Adonijah!’

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

But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.

27 H as this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

Was this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 T hen King David said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” And she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.

Then king David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king.

29 T he king vowed and said, “ As the Lord lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

The king swore, and said, “As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

30 s urely as I vowed to you by the Lord the God of Israel, saying, ‘Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place’; I will indeed do so this day.”

most certainly as I swore to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ I will most certainly do this today.”

31 T hen Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, “ May my lord King David live forever.”

Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live forever!”

32 T hen King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” And they came into the king’s presence.

King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king.

33 T he king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

The king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.

34 L et Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, ‘ Long live King Solomon!’

Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, ‘Long live king Solomon!’

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

Then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.”

36 B enaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! Thus may the Lord, the God of my lord the king, say.

Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, “Amen. May Yahweh, the God of my lord the king, say so.

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

As Yahweh 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.”

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

So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon.

39 Z adok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “ Long live King Solomon!”

Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live king Solomon!”

40 A ll the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise.

All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.

41 N ow Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is the city making such an uproar?”

Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?”

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

While he yet spoke, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came; and Adonijah said, “Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news.”

43 B ut Jonathan replied to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

Jonathan answered Adonijah, “Most certainly our lord king David has made Solomon king.

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

The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king’s mule.

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

Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

46 B esides, Solomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom.

Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

47 M oreover, the king’s servants came to bless 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 bowed himself on the bed.

Moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne;’ and the king bowed himself on the bed.

48 T he king has also said thus, ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it.’”

Also thus said the king, ‘Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne today, my eyes even seeing it.’”

49 T hen all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way.

All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.

50 A nd Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.

Adonijah was afraid because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and hung onto the horns of the altar.

51 N ow it was told Solomon, saying, “Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’”

Solomon was told, “Behold, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, behold, he is hanging onto the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”

52 S olomon said, “If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die.”

Solomon said, “If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of his shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.”

53 S o King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”

So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.”