1 Kings, 2

1. Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

1. When David was about to die, he gave his son Solomon this instruction,

2. I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

2. "I am about to go the way of all creatures. Be strong and show yourself a man.

3. And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

3. Keep the commandments of Yahweh your God and walk in his ways. Keep his statutes, his commands, his ordinances and declarations written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do and wherever you go.

4. That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

4. If you do so, Yahweh will fulfill the promise he made to me: 'If your sons take care to walk before me faithfully with their whole heart and their whole soul, you shall always have one of your descendants on the throne of Israel.'

5. Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, [and] what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that [was] about his loins, and in his shoes that [were] on his feet.

5. Now you know what Joab, the son of Zeruiah did to me - how he dealt with the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether. These two he murdered, avenging, in time of peace, blood which had been shed in time of war. He has thus stained with innocent blood the belt I wear and the sandals on my feet.

6. Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

6. Act wisely, therefore, his blood must be shed before he dies of old age.

7. But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

7. As to the sons of Barzillai, the Gileadite, deal kindly with them and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they themselves treated me with similar kindness when I fled from your brother Absalom.

8. And, behold, [thou hast] with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

8. With you also is Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who cursed me terribly, the day I fled to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by Yahweh, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'

9. Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou [art] a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

9. Now therefore, you, being a wise man, shall not hold him guiltless. You will know what to do with him: his blood must be shed before he dies of old age."

10. So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

10. Then David rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.

11. And the days that David reigned over Israel [were] forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.

11. David reigned over Israel for forty years: seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

12. Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.

12. So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father and his reign was firmly established.

13. And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.

13. Then Adonijah, son of Haggith, came to Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, who asked him, "Do you come in peace?" He answered, "In peace,"

14. He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.

14. and added, "I have something to tell you." She said, "Speak"

15. And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and [that] all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.

15. and Adonijah said, "You know that the kingdom was mine and that all Israel fully expected me to reign. But the kingdom has slipped from my hands and become my brother's for it was given him by Yahweh.

16. And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.

16. Now I have one thing to ask of you and I beg you not to refuse me." She said, "Speak,"

17. And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.

17. and he continued, "Please ask King Solomon to give me Abishag the Shunammite for my wife. I know that he cannot refuse you."

18. And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.

18. Bathsheba answered, "Very well, I shall speak to the king on your behalf."

19. Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.

19. So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king met her and bowed to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother who sat on his right.

20. Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; [I pray thee], say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.

20. She said, "I have one small request to make of you. Do not refuse me." And the king answered her, "Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you."

21. And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.

21. She then said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife."

22. And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he [is] mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

22. King Solomon answered his mother, "And why do you not ask for the kingdom to be given to him! For he is my elder brother, and Abiathar the priest and Joab the son of Zeruiah are on his side."

23. Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

23. Then King Solomon swore this oath, "Yahweh do so to me and more if this request does not cause Adonijah his life!

24. Now therefore, [as] the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.

24. Now, therefore, as Yahweh lives, he who has established me and placed me on the throne of David my father, and who has established a kingly line as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day."

25. And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

25. So King Solomon sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who killed him.

26. And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou [art] worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

26. Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, "Go to your estate at Anathoth. You deserve death but I will not put you to death, because you carried the ark of God before my father David and shared in all his trials."

27. So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

27. So Solomon removed Abiathar as priest of Yahweh, and fulfilled the word spoken by Yahweh in Shiloh concerning the descendants of Eli.

28. Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

28. This news reached Joab, who had supported Adonijah but not Absalom. He fled to the tent of Yahweh and held onto the horns of the altar.

29. And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, [he is] by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

29. When it was reported to King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of Yahweh and was beside the altar, the king sent Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, with this command, "Go, strike him down!"

30. And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.

30. So Benaiah went to the tent of Yahweh and said to Joab, "The king commands: 'Come forward.'" But he replied, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah went back to the king with this report, "This is what Joab answered."

31. And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

31. The king then replied. "Do as he has said. Strike him down and have him buried. With this, the guilt for the blood which Joab shed will be lifted from me and from my father's family.

32. And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing [thereof, to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

32. Yahweh will repay him for the blood he shed because, without my father David's knowledge, he attacked and slew with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner son of Ner, commander of the Israelite army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army.

33. Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.

33. "Their blood shall be avenged on Joab and his descendants forever; but David and his descendants, his family and throne shall enjoy peace from Yahweh forever."

34. So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.

34. Then Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, went up, struck Joab down and killed him. He was buried in his own house in the desert.

35. And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.

35. The king put Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, over the army in place of Joab; and Zadok the priest, in place of Abiathar.

36. And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.

36. Then the king sent for Shimei and told him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and stay there, and do not leave the place to go anywhere.

37. For it shall be, [that] on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.

37. On the day you leave and cross the brook Kidron, you shall surely die and you shall be responsible for your own death."

38. And Shimei said unto the king, The saying [is] good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.

38. Shimei answered the king, "What you say is good. Your servant will do as my lord the king has commanded." So Shimei stayed in Jerusalem for many days.

39. And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants [be] in Gath.

39. Three years later, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to Achish, son of Maacha, king of Gath. When it was reported to Shimei that his slaves were in Gath,

40. And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.

40. he saddled an ass and went to Achish in Gath in search of his slaves.

41. And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.

41. When Solomon was informed that Shimei had left Jerusalem for Gath and returned,

42. And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word [that] I have heard [is] good.

42. the king sent for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by Yahweh and warned you severely that, on the day you left to go anywhere you would surely die? And you answered me: 'What you say is good; I shall obey!'

43. Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?

43. Why then did you not keep your oath to Yahweh and obey the command I gave you?"

44. The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;

44. The king told Shimei, "Remember the evil you did to David my father. Now Yahweh will repay you for what you did.

45. And king Solomon [shall be] blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.

45. But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall stand firm before Yahweh forever."

46. So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

46. Then the king commanded Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, who went out and struck Shimei and killed him. In this manner, Solomon firmly established his reign.