| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm. | 1When David had grown very old, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm, |
| 2Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman, a virgin, be sought for our lord the king, and let her stand before the king, and let her care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that our lord the king may be warm.” | 2so his servants suggested to him, "Let's look for a young virgin woman to take care of you, your majesty. She will be of use to you if you have her lie down near you so that your majesty may keep warm." |
| 3So they sought for a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. | 3So they conducted a search throughout the territory of Israel for a beautiful young woman, and Abishag the Shunammite was located and brought to the king. |
| 4The young woman was very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her. | 4The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her. |
| 5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king”; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. | 5Meanwhile, about this time Haggith's son Adonijah began to seek a reputation for himself and decided, "I'm going to be king!" So he prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 soldiers to serve as a security detail to guard him. |
| 6(And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, “Why have you done so?” He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.) | 6His father had never challenged him at any time during his life by asking him, "Why are you acting like this?" Adonijah was very handsome and had been born after Absalom. |
| 7Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah. | 7He had the support of Zeruiah's son Joab and of Abiathar the priest, who followed Adonijah and assisted him, |
| 8But 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. | 8but Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's personal elite forces would have nothing to do with Adonijah. |
| 9And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king’s servants. | 9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the Serpent Stone near En-rogel, inviting all of his relatives, the king's sons, and all of the men of Judah who worked for the king, |
| 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother. | 10but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's personal elite forces, or his brother Solomon. |
| 11So 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? | 11"Haven't you heard?" Nathan asked Solomon's mother Bathsheba. "Haggith's son Adonijah has become king and David, our true king, isn't aware of it. |
| 12Come, please, let me now give you advice, that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. | 12If you listen to me, you'll save your life and the life of your son Solomon. |
| 13Go immediately to King David and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord, O king, swear to your maidservant, saying, “Assuredly your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ | 13Go right now to King David and ask him, 'Your majesty, you promised your servant that "Your son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne," didn't you? So why has Adonijah become king?' |
| 14Then, while you are still talking there with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words.” | 14Then, while you are still talking to the king, I'll come in after you and verify your statement." |
| 15So Bathsheba went into the chamber to the king. (Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) | 15So Bathsheba went to the king in his private room. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to him. |
| 16And Bathsheba bowed and did homage to the king. Then the king said, “What is your wish?” | 16Bathsheba knelt and bowed down to the king, and the king asked her, "What do you wish?" |
| 17Then she said to him, “My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ | 17"Your majesty," she replied, "you promised your servant in the name of the LORD your God, 'Your son Solomon will certainly become king after me and will sit on my throne.' |
| 18So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it. | 18Now look, Adonijah has become king, and your majesty is not aware of it. |
| 19He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited. | 19Adonijah has sacrificed myriads of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and he has invited all of the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon. |
| 20And as for you, my lord, O 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. | 20And as for you, your majesty, everyone in Israel is looking to you to tell them who will sit on your majesty's throne after you. |
| 21Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders.” | 21Otherwise, as soon as your majesty is laid to rest with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be branded as traitors." |
| 22And just then, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. | 22While she was still talking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. |
| 23So they told the king, saying, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground. | 23They informed the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." When he had been ushered into the presence of the king, Nathan bowed low in front of the king with his face to the ground |
| 24And Nathan said, “My lord, O king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? | 24and asked, "Your majesty, did you say 'Adonijah will be king after me and will sit on my throne'? |
| 25For he has gone down today, and has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, and the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest; and look! They are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ | 25Well now, he went down today and sacrificed lots of oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep, and has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. They're having a party together and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' |
| 26But he has not invited me—me your servant—nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. | 26Of course, he never invited me, Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, nor your servant Solomon. |
| 27Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?” | 27Were you behind this, your majesty, without letting your servants know who would sit on your majesty's throne after him?" |
| 28Then King David answered and said, “Call Bathsheba to me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. | 28"Call Bathsheba for me," King David replied. So she came in and stood in front of the king. |
| 29And the king took an oath and said, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, | 29"As the LORD lives," the king said with an oath, "who has redeemed me from all sorts of troubles, |
| 30just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ so I certainly will do this day.” | 30I certainly did tell you in the name of the LORD God of Israel, 'Your son Solomon will be king after me and will sit on my throne in my place.' I'm certainly going to make this happen today!" |
| 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and paid homage to the king, and said, “Let my lord King David live forever!” | 31"King David," Bathsheba said as she bowed low in front of the king with her face to the ground, "your majesty, may you live forever." |
| 32And King David said, “Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king. | 32"Get me Zadok the priest," King David said, "along with Nathan the prophet, and Jehoiada's son Benaiah." So they were ushered into the king's presence |
| 33The king also said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. | 33and David addressed them. "Take your lord's servants, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. |
| 34There let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel; and blow the horn, and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ | 34Have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel. Then sound a trumpet and declare 'Long live King Solomon!' |
| 35Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, and he shall be king in my place. For I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah.” | 35After this, you are to follow him back here, and he is to come and sit on my throne and take my place as king, because I've appointed him to be Commander-in-Chief over Israel and Judah." |
| 36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, “Amen! May the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. | 36"Amen!" replied Jehoiada's son Benaiah to the king. "May the LORD God of your majesty make this happen! |
| 37As 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.” | 37As the LORD has been with your majesty the king, so may he be with Solomon. May he make his throne greater than the throne of your majesty, King David." |
| 38So 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 took him to Gihon. | 38So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, the special forces and mercenaries went out and had Solomon ride the king's mule all the way to Gihon. |
| 39Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” | 39Zadok the priest brought from his tent a horn filled with oil and anointed Solomon, a trumpet was sounded, and everybody yelled out, "Long live King Solomon!" |
| 40And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth seemed to split with their sound. | 40All the people followed after him, playing on wind pipes and so full of joy that the earth shook because of all the noise! |
| 41Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the horn, he said, “Why is the city in such a noisy uproar?” | 41Right about then, Adonijah and all of his guests were just finishing their meal when they heard all the noise. "Why is the city in such an uproar?" Joab asked as he heard the trumpet sounds. |
| 42While he was still speaking, there came Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest. And Adonijah said to him, “Come in, for you are a prominent man, and bring good news.” | 42While he was still asking that question, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest arrived, so Adonijah told him, "Come on in, since you're a worthy man and are bringing us good news!" |
| 43Then Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, “No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. | 43"No," Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has installed Solomon as king. |
| 44The king has 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. | 44The king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, the special forces and mercenaries, along with Solomon, who is riding the king's personal mule. |
| 45So Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard. | 45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him in Gihon, and they just left from there rejoicing, and that's why the city is all in an uproar. That's the noise that you've been hearing! |
| 46Also Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom. | 46Solomon now sits on the royal throne. |
| 47And moreover the king’s servants have gone to bless our lord King David, saying, ‘May God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ Then the king bowed himself on the bed. | 47In addition to all of this, the king's servants have come along to congratulate our lord King David. They've been telling David 'May your God make Solomon's reputation even more famous than yours, and may he make his throne greater than yours!' The king has himself bowed in worship on his own bed |
| 48Also the king said thus, ‘Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, while my eyes see it!’ ” | 48and said 'Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who has provided someone to sit on my throne today. I've seen it with my own eyes!'" |
| 49So all the guests who were with Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and each one went his way. | 49Terrified, all of Adonijah's guests jumped up and ran away. |
| 50Now Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; so he arose, and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. | 50Afraid of Solomon, Adonijah also jumped up and headed straight for the horns of the altar. |
| 51And it was told Solomon, saying, “Indeed Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; for look, 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.’ ” | 51"Hey look!" somebody informed Solomon. "Adonijah is terrified of King Solomon! He's gone out, grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, and now he's begging King Solomon, 'Swear to me that you won't put your servant to death with a sword!'" |
| 52Then Solomon said, “If he proves himself a worthy man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” | 52"If he's done nothing wrong, not a hair of his head will be harmed," Solomon replied. "But if we find evil in him, he's a dead man." |
| 53So King Solomon sent them to bring him down from the altar. And he came and fell down before King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.” | 53So King Solomon sent for him, and he was brought down from the altar. When he had arrived, he fell on his face in front of King Solomon, so Solomon told him, "Go home!" |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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