1 Kings 2:1-9 ▼

1 The dayes of Dauid drew nie that he should dye, & he charged Solomon his sonne, saying:

2 I go the way of al the earth, be thou strong therfore, & shewe thy selfe a man.

3 Kepe thou the watch of the Lorde thy God, that thou walke in his wayes, and kepe his statutes, and his preceptes, his iudgementes, and his testimonies, euen as it is written in the lawe of Moyses: that thou mayst prosper in all that thou doest, and in euery thing that thou medlest withall.

4 That the Lorde also may make good his worde which he spake vnto me, saying: If thy children take heede to their way, that they walke before me in trueth, with all their heartes, & with al their soules, thou shalt not (saith he) be without a man on the seate of Israel.

5 Moreouer, thou wottest howe Ioab the sonne of Zaruia serued me, and what he did to the two captaynes of the hoastes of Israel, vnto Abner the sonne of Ner, and vnto Amasa the sonne of Iether, whom he slue, and shed blood in time of peace (euen as it had ben in warre) & put the blood of warre vpon his girdle that was about his loynes, and in his shoes that were on his feete.

6 Deale with him therefore according to thy wisdome, and bring not his hoore head downe to the graue in peace.

7 But shewe kindnes vnto the sonnes of Barzellai ye Gileadite, that they may eate at thy table: For they came to me whe I fled from Absalom thy brother.

8 And behold, thou hast with thee Semei the sonne of Gera the sonne of Iemini of Bahurim, whiche cursed me with an horrible curse, in the day when I went to Mahanaim: But he came to meete me at Iordane, & I sware to him by the Lord, saying: I wil not slay thee with the sworde.

9 But thou shalt not count him as vngiltie: For thou art a man of wisdome, and knowest what thou oughtest to do vnto him, his hoore head shalt thou bring to the graue with blood.