| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, 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 be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my 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 beautiful 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 beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not. | 4The young woman was absolutely beautiful. She served the king and was very useful to him. The king was not sexually involved with her. |
| 5Now 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. |
| 6His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, “Why have you done thus and so?” He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next 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. |
| 7He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him. | 7He had the support of Zeruiah's son Joab and of Abiathar the priest, who followed Adonijah and assisted him, |
| 8But Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and Nathan the prophet and Shimei and Rei and David’s mighty men 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. |
| 9Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened cattle by the Serpent’s Stone, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah, | 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 or Benaiah or 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. |
| 11Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “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. |
| 12Now therefore come, let me 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 in at once to King David, and say to him, ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne”? Why then is Adonijah 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 speaking 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 to the king in his chamber (now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to 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. |
| 16Bathsheba bowed and paid homage to the king, and the king said, “What do you desire?” | 16Bathsheba knelt and bowed down to the king, and the king asked her, "What do you wish?" |
| 17She said to him, “My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying, ‘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.' |
| 18And now, behold, Adonijah is king, although you, my lord the king, do not know it. | 18Now look, Adonijah has become king, and your majesty is not aware of it. |
| 19He has sacrificed oxen, 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 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. | 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 come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted offenders.” | 21Otherwise, as soon as your majesty is laid to rest with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be branded as traitors." |
| 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. | 22While she was still talking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. |
| 23And they told the king, “Here is Nathan the prophet.” And when he came in before the king, he bowed 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 the 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 this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘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 me, your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon he has not invited. | 26Of course, he never invited me, Zadok the priest, Jehoiada's son Benaiah, nor your servant Solomon. |
| 27Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not told your servants 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, “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 swore, saying, “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity, | 29"As the LORD lives," the king said with an oath, "who has redeemed me from all sorts of troubles, |
| 30as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, saying, ‘Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,’ even so will I 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 ground and paid homage to the king and said, “May 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." |
| 32King 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 |
| 33And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring 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. |
| 34And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet 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!' |
| 35You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over 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." |
| 36And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say so. | 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, and 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. | 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. |
| 39There Zadok the priest 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!” | 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, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise. | 40All the people followed after him, playing on wind pipes and so full of joy that the earth shook because of all the noise! |
| 41Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “What does this uproar in the city mean?” | 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, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy 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!" |
| 43Jonathan answered Adonijah, “No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king, | 43"No," Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has installed Solomon as king. |
| 44and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites. And they had 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. |
| 45And 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! |
| 46Solomon sits on the royal throne. | 46Solomon now sits on the royal throne. |
| 47Moreover, the king’s servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.’ And 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 |
| 48And the king also said, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted someone to sit on my throne this day, my own eyes seeing 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!'" |
| 49Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. | 49Terrified, all of Adonijah's guests jumped up and ran away. |
| 50And Adonijah feared 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. |
| 51Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first 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!'" |
| 52And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs 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, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to 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!" |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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