| New International Version | New Living Translation |
| 1When King David was very old, he could not keep warm even when they put covers over him. | 1King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. |
| 2So his attendants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to serve the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm." | 2So his advisers told him, “Let us find a young virgin to wait on you and look after you, my lord. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.” |
| 3Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. | 3So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king. |
| 4The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her. | 4The girl was very beautiful, and she looked after the king and took care of him. But the king had no sexual relations with her. Adonijah Claims the Throne |
| 5Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I will be king." So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. | 5About that time David’s son Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, began boasting, “I will make myself king.” So he provided himself with chariots and charioteers and recruited fifty men to run in front of him. |
| 6(His father had never rebuked him by asking, "Why do you behave as you do?" He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.) | 6Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome. |
| 7Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. | 7Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. |
| 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David's special guard did not join Adonijah. | 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah. |
| 9Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, | 9Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah. |
| 10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon. | 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon. |
| 11Then Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king, and our lord David knows nothing about it? | 11Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her, “Haven’t you heard that Haggith’s son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn’t even know about it? |
| 12Now then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. | 12If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. |
| 13Go in to King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?' | 13Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, didn’t you make a vow and say to me, “Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ |
| 14While you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and add my word to what you have said." | 14And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.” |
| 15So Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the Shunammite was attending him. | 15So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.) |
| 16Bathsheba bowed down, prostrating herself before the king. "What is it you want?" the king asked. | 16Bathsheba bowed down before the king. “What can I do for you?” he asked her. |
| 17She said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the LORD your God: 'Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.' | 17She replied, “My lord, you made a vow before the LORD your God when you said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne.’ |
| 18But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know about it. | 18But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it. |
| 19He has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant. | 19He has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited Abiathar the priest and Joab, the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon. |
| 20My lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. | 20And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you. |
| 21Otherwise, as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his ancestors, I and my son Solomon will be treated as criminals." | 21If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died.” |
| 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. | 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. |
| 23And the king was told, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground. | 23The king’s officials told him, “Nathan the prophet is here to see you.” Nathan went in and bowed before the king with his face to the ground. |
| 24Nathan said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? | 24Nathan asked, “My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne? |
| 25Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' | 25Today he has sacrificed many cattle, fattened calves, and sheep, and he has invited all the king’s sons to attend the celebration. He also invited the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. They are feasting and drinking with him and shouting, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ |
| 26But me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he did not invite. | 26But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon. |
| 27Is this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?" | 27Has my lord the king really done this without letting any of his officials know who should be the next king?” David Makes Solomon King |
| 28Then King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him. | 28King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So she came back in and stood before the king. |
| 29The king then took an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, | 29And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger, |
| 30I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place." | 30your son Solomon will be the next king and will sit on my throne this very day, just as I vowed to you before the LORD, the God of Israel.” |
| 31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, "May my lord King David live forever!" | 31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!” |
| 32King David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king, | 32Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence, |
| 33he said to them: "Take your lord's servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. | 33the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. |
| 34There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!' | 34There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ |
| 35Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah." | 35Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” |
| 36Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. | 36“Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen. |
| 37As the LORD was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!" | 37And may the LORD be with Solomon as he has been with you, my lord the king, and may he make Solomon’s reign even greater than yours!” |
| 38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David's mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. | 38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the king’s bodyguard took Solomon down to Gihon Spring, with Solomon riding on King David’s own mule. |
| 39Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" | 39There Zadok the priest took the flask of olive oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon with the oil. Then they sounded the ram’s horn and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” |
| 40And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound. | 40And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound. |
| 41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, "What's the meaning of all the noise in the city?" | 41Adonijah and his guests heard the celebrating and shouting just as they were finishing their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of the ram’s horn, he asked, “What’s going on? Why is the city in such an uproar?” |
| 42Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news." | 42And while he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” Adonijah said to him, “for you are a good man. You must have good news.” |
| 43"Not at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made Solomon king. | 43“Not at all!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! |
| 44The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king's mule, | 44The king sent him down to Gihon Spring with Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, protected by the king’s bodyguard. They had him ride on the king’s own mule, |
| 45and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That's the noise you hear. | 45and Zadok and Nathan have anointed him at Gihon Spring as the new king. They have just returned, and the whole city is celebrating and rejoicing. That’s what all the noise is about. |
| 46Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. | 46What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king. |
| 47Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make Solomon's name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!' And the king bowed in worship on his bed | 47And all the royal officials have gone to King David and congratulated him, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s fame even greater than your own, and may Solomon’s reign be even greater than yours!’ Then the king bowed his head in worship as he lay in his bed, |
| 48and said, 'Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.'" | 48and he said, ‘Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who today has chosen a successor to sit on my throne while I am still alive to see it.’” |
| 49At this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed. | 49Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. |
| 50But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. | 50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. |
| 51Then Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'" | 51Word soon reached Solomon that Adonijah had seized the horns of the altar in fear, and that he was pleading, “Let King Solomon swear today that he will not kill me!” |
| 52Solomon replied, "If he shows himself to be worthy, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he will die." | 52Solomon replied, “If he proves himself to be loyal, not a hair on his head will be touched. But if he makes trouble, he will die.” |
| 53Then King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go to your home." | 53So King Solomon summoned Adonijah, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed respectfully before King Solomon, who dismissed him, saying, “Go on home.” |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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