| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1King David was now very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. | 1Now King David was old and getting on in years. Although they covered him with bedclothes, he could not get 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 us search for a young virgin for my lord the king. She is to attend the king and be his caregiver. She is to lie by your side so that my lord the king will get 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. | 3They searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel; they 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 of unsurpassed beauty, and she became the king's caregiver. She served him, but he was not intimate 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. | 5Adonijah son of Haggith kept exalting himself, saying, "I will be king!" He prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 men to run ahead of 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. | 6But his father had never once reprimanded him by saying, "Why do you act this way?" In addition, he was quite handsome and 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 conspired with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They supported Adonijah, |
| 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 son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's warriors did not side 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, oxen, and fattened cattle near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king, |
| 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 warriors, or his brother Solomon. |
| 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 said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king and our lord David does not know it? |
| 12If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. | 12Now please come and let me advise you. 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?’ | 13Go, approach King David and say to him, 'My lord the king, did you not swear to your servant: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne? So why has Adonijah become king?' |
| 14And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.” | 14At that moment, while you are still there speaking with the king, I'll 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 to the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. |
| 16Bathsheba bowed down before the king. “What can I do for you?” he asked her. | 16Bathsheba bowed down and paid homage to the king, and he asked, "What do you want?" |
| 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 replied, "My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, 'Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne.' |
| 18But instead, Adonijah has made himself king, and my lord the king does not even know about it. | 18Now look, Adonijah has become king. And, my lord the king, you didn't 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. | 19He has lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army, but he did not invite your servant Solomon. |
| 20And now, my lord the king, all Israel is waiting for you to announce who will become king after you. | 20Now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who will 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.” | 21Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals." |
| 22While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. | 22At that moment, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived, |
| 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. | 23and it was announced to the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." He came into the king's presence and bowed to him 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? | 24My lord the king," Nathan said, "did you say, 'Adonijah is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to 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!’ | 25For today he went down and lavishly sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep. He invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And look! They're eating and drinking in his presence, and they're saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' |
| 26But he did not invite me or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or your servant Solomon. | 26But he did not invite me--me, your servant--or Zadok the priest or Benaiah son of Jehoiada or your servant Solomon. |
| 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 | 27I'm certain my lord the king would not have let this happen without letting your servant know who will sit on my lord the king's throne after him." |
| 28King David responded, “Call Bathsheba!” So she came back in and stood before the king. | 28King David responded by saying, "Call in Bathsheba for me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before him. |
| 29And the king repeated his vow: “As surely as the LORD lives, who has rescued me from every danger, | 29The king swore an oath and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every difficulty, |
| 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.” | 30just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel: Your son Solomon is to become king after me, and he is the one who is to sit on my throne in my place, that is exactly what I will do this very day." |
| 31Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground before the king and exclaimed, “May my lord King David live forever!” | 31Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, paying homage to 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, | 32King David then said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me." So 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 my servants with you, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take 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!’ | 34There, Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him as king over Israel. You are to blow the ram's horn 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.” | 35You are to come up after him, and he is to come in and sit on my throne. He is the one who is to become king in my place; he is the one I have commanded 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. | 36Amen," Benaiah son of Jehoiada replied to the king. "May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so affirm it. |
| 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!” | 37Just as the LORD was 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. | 38Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down, had Solomon ride on King David's mule, and took 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 took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram's horn, and all the people proclaimed, "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 followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth split open from the sound. |
| 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?” | 41Adonijah and all the invited guests who were with him heard the noise as they finished eating. Joab heard the sound of the ram's horn and said, "Why is the town in 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.” | 42He was still speaking when Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest, suddenly arrived. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are an excellent man, and you must be bringing good news."" |
| 43“Not at all!” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has just declared Solomon king! | 43Unfortunately not," Jonathan answered him. "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, | 44And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have had 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. | 45Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have gone from there rejoicing. The town has been in an uproar; that's the noise you heard. |
| 46What’s more, Solomon is now sitting on the royal throne as king. | 46Solomon has even taken his seat on the royal throne." |
| 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, | 47The king's servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon more well known than your name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.' Then the king bowed in worship on his 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.’” | 48And the king went on to say this: 'May the LORD God of Israel be praised! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and I am a witness.'" |
| 49Then all of Adonijah’s guests jumped up in panic from the banquet table and quickly scattered. | 49Then all of Adonijah's guests got up trembling and went their separate ways. |
| 50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he rushed to the sacred tent and grabbed on to the horns of the altar. | 50Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take 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!” | 51It was reported to Solomon: "Look, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon first swear to me that he will not kill his servant 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.” | 52Then Solomon said, "If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies." |
| 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 for him, and they took him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your home." |
| 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. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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