1 Kings 1

1 Now king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn't keep warm.

Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.

2 Therefore his servants said to him, "Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin. And let her attend the king, and care for him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm."

So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

3 So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king.

4 The young woman was very beautiful; and she became the king's attendant and served him; but the king did not know her intimately.

The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him.

6 His father had never scolded him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" And he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom.

(His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.)

7 And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest. And they followed Adonijah and helped him.

So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him.

8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.

9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is near En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants:

And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king.

10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, or Benaiah, or the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn't know it?

Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?

12 Now therefore come, please let me give you advice, that you may save your own life, and the life of your son Solomon.

Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

13 Go in to king David, and tell him, 'Did you not, my lord, king, swear to your handmaid, saying, "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then does Adonijah reign?'

Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’

14 And look, while you are still there speaking with the king, I also will come in after you and confirm your words."

Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 Bathsheba went in to the king into the room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was attending to the king.

So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him.

16 Bathsheba bowed, and showed respect to the king. The king said, "What would you like?"

And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?”

17 And she said to him, "My lord, you swore by YHWH your God to your handmaid, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne.'

“My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’

18 Now, look, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, do not know it.

But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, did not know it.

19 And he has sacrificed many oxen and fatlings and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but he hasn't invited Solomon your servant.

And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he did not invite your servant Solomon.

20 And now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you to announce to them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals."

Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”

22 And look, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.

And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.

23 And they told the king, saying, "Look, Nathan the prophet." And when he came in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.

24 And Nathan said, "My lord, king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne?'

“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?

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. Look, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, 'Long live king Adonijah.'

For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

26 But me, me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited.

But me your servant he did not invite, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.

27 Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king, and you haven't told your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?”

28 Then king David answered, "Summon Bathsheba to me." So she came into the king's presence, and stood before him.

Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

29 And the king vowed, saying, "As YHWH lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity,

And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

30 most certainly as I vowed to you by YHWH, the 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."

I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, paying homage to the king, and said, "Let my lord king David live forever."

Bathsheba bowed facedown in homage to the king and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

32 And King David said, "Summon to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." They came before the king.

Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.

33 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.

“Take my servants with you,” said the king. “Set my son Solomon on my own mule and take him down to Gihon.

34 And have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel. Blow the trumpet, and say, 'Long live king Solomon.'

There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’

35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne; for he shall be king in my place. I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah."

Then you shall go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. For I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, "Amen. May YHWH, the God of my lord the king, say so.

“Amen,” replied Benaiah son of Jehoiada. “May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so declare it.

37 As YHWH 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."

Just as the LORD was with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon and make his throne even greater than that of my lord King David.”

38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride on king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.

Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.

39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, "Long live king Solomon."

Zadok 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!”

40 All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth split open at their sound.

All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.

41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is this noise of the city being in an uproar?"

Now Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their feast when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn. “Why is the city in such a loud uproar?” asked Joab.

42 While he yet spoke, look, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, "Come in; for you are a worthy man, and bring good news."

As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.”

43 Jonathan answered Adonijah, "No. Our lord king David has made Solomon king.

“Not at all,” Jonathan replied. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king.

44 The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride on the king's mule.

And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.

45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon. They have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that you have heard.

Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.

46 Also, Solomon sits on the throne of the kingdom.

Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.

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 make his throne greater than your throne;' and the king bowed himself on the bed.

The king’s servants have also gone to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make the name of Solomon more famous than your own name, and may He make his throne greater than your throne.’ And the king has bowed in worship on his bed,

48 Also thus said the king, 'Blessed be YHWH, the God of Israel, who has given one to sit on my throne this day, my eyes even seeing it.'"

saying, ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel! Today He has provided one to sit on my throne, and my eyes have seen it.’”

49 All the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and each man went his way.

At this, all the guests of Adonijah arose in terror and scattered.

50 Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar.

51 It was told Solomon, saying, "Look, Adonijah fears king Solomon; for, look, he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let king Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'"

It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’”

52 Solomon said, "If he shows himself a worthy man, not a hair of him shall fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die."

And Solomon replied, “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 will die.”

53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to king Solomon; and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

So King Solomon summoned Adonijah down from the altar, and he came and bowed down before King Solomon, who said to him, “Go to your home.”