| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. | 1Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not 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.” | 2So 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." |
| 3So they searched throughout the land of Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag from Shunem and brought her to the king. | 3So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. |
| 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 | 4The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her. |
| 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. | 5Now 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. |
| 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. | 6His 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. |
| 7Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. | 7He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him. |
| 8But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah. | 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. |
| 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. | 9Adonijah 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. |
| 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king’s bodyguard or his brother Solomon. | 10But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother. |
| 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? | 11Then 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? |
| 12If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. | 12"So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon. |
| 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?’ | 13"Go 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?' |
| 14And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.” | 14"Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words." |
| 15So Bathsheba went into the king’s bedroom. (He was very old now, and Abishag was taking care of him.) | 15So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king. |
| 16Bathsheba bowed down before the king. “What can I do for you?” he asked her. | 16Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, "What do you wish?" |
| 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.’ | 17She 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.' |
| 18But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it. | 18"Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. |
| 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. | 19"He 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. |
| 20And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you. | 20"As 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. |
| 21If you do not act, my son Solomon and I will be treated as criminals as soon as my lord the king has died.” | 21"Otherwise 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." |
| 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. | 22Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. |
| 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. | 23They 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. |
| 24Nathan asked, “My lord the king, have you decided that Adonijah will be the next king and that he will sit on your throne? | 24Then Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne '? |
| 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!’ | 25"For 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!' |
| 26But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon. | 26"But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited. |
| 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 | 27"Has 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?" |
| 28King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So she came back in and stood before the king. | 28Then King David said, "Call Bathsheba to me." And she came into the king's presence and stood before the king. |
| 29And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger, | 29The king vowed and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, |
| 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.” | 30surely 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." |
| 31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!” | 31Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, "May my lord King David live forever." |
| 32Then King David ordered, “Call Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came into the king’s presence, | 32Then 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. |
| 33the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. | 33The 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. |
| 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!’ | 34"Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, 'Long live King Solomon!' |
| 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.” | 35"Then 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." |
| 36“Amen!” Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, decree that it happen. | 36Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say. |
| 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!” | 37"As 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!" |
| 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. | 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 brought him to Gihon. |
| 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!” | 39Zadok 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!" |
| 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. | 40All 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. |
| 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?” | 41Now 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?" |
| 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.” | 42While 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." |
| 43“Not at all!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! | 43But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, "No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king. |
| 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, | 44"The 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. |
| 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. | 45"Zadok 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. |
| 46What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king. | 46"Besides, Solomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom. |
| 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, | 47"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 his throne greater than your throne!' And the king bowed himself on the bed. |
| 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.’” | 48"The 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.'" |
| 49Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. | 49Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way. |
| 50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. | 50And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar. |
| 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!” | 51Now 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.'" |
| 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.” | 52Solomon 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." |
| 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.” | 53So 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." |
| 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. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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