1 Kings 1

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 King David was now a very old man, and though wrapped in bedclothes he could not keep warm.	1 When King David was old and advanced in years, though they spread covers over him he could not keep warm.
2 So his servants said to him, 'Let us find a young girl for my lord the king, to wait on the king and lookafter him; she wil lie close beside you and this wil keep my lord the king warm.'	2 His servants therefore said to him, "Let a young virgin be sought to attend you, lord king, and to nurse you. If she sleeps with your royal majesty, you will be kept warm."
3 Having searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, they found Abishag of Shunem andbrought her to the king.	3 So they sought for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunamite, whom they brought to the king.
4 The girl was very beautiful. She looked after the king and waited on him but the king did not haveintercourse with her.	4 The maiden, who was very beautiful, nursed the king and cared for him, but the king did not have relations with her.
5 Now Adonijah son of Haggith was growing pretentious and saying, 'I shal be king!' Accordingly, heprocured a chariot and team with fifty guards to run ahead of him.	5 Adonijah, son of Haggith, began to display his ambition to be king. He acquired chariots, drivers, and fifty henchmen.
6 Never once in his life had his father crossed him by saying, 'Why are you behaving like that?' He wasvery handsome too; his mother had given birth to him after Absalom.	6 Yet his father never rebuked him or asked why he was doing this. Adonijah was also very handsome, and next in age to Absalom by the same mother.
7 He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with the priest Abiathar, who both ral ied to Adonijah's cause;	7 He conferred with Joab, son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported him.
8 but neither Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor the prophet Nathan, nor Shimei and Rei,nor David's champions, supported Adonijah.	8 However, Zadok the priest, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, and Shimei and his companions, the pick of David's army, did not side with Adonijah.
9 One day when Adonijah was sacrificing sheep, oxen and fattened calves at the Sliding Stone which isbeside the Ful er's Spring, he invited al his brothers, the royal princes, and al the men of Judah in the king'sservice;	9 When he slaughtered sheep, oxen, and fatlings at the stone Zoheleth, near En-rogel, Adonijah invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah.
10 but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, or Benaiah, or the champions, or his brother Solomon.	10 But he did not invite the prophet Nathan, or Benaiah, or the pick of the army, or his brother Solomon.
11 Nathan then said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, 'Have you not heard that, unknown to our lordDavid, Adonijah son of Haggith has become king?	11 Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother: "Have you not heard that Adonijah, son of Haggith, has become king without the knowledge of our lord David?
12 Wel , this is my advice to you if you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.	12 Come now, let me advise you so that you may save your life and that of your son Solomon.
13 Go straight in to King David and say, "My lord king, did you not make your servant this promise onoath: Your son Solomon is to be king after me; he is the one who is to sit on my throne? How is it, then, thatAdonijah is king?"	13 Go, visit King David, and say to him, 'Did you not, lord king, swear to your handmaid: Your son Solomon shall be king after me and shall sit upon my throne? Why, then, has Adonijah become king?'
14 And while you are stil there talking to the king, I shal come in after you and confirm what you say.'	14 And while you are still there speaking to the king, I will come in after you and confirm what you have said."
15 So Bathsheba went to the king in his room (he was very old and Abishag of Shunem was in attendanceon him).	15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his room, while Abishag the Shunamite was attending him because of his advanced age.
16 She knelt, prostrated herself before the king, and the king said, 'What do you want?'	16 Bathsheba bowed in homage to the king, who said to her, "What do you wish?"
17 'My lord,' she replied, 'you swore to your servant by Yahweh your God, "Your son Solomon is to beking after me; he is the one who is to sit on my throne."	17 She answered him: "My lord, you swore to me your handmaid by the LORD, your God, that my son Solomon should reign after you and sit upon your throne.
18 And now here is Adonijah king, and you, my lord king, knowing nothing about it!	18 But now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord king, do not know it.
19 He has sacrificed quantities of oxen, fattened calves and sheep, and invited all the royal princes, thepriest Abiathar, and Joab the army commander; but he has not invited your servant Solomon.	19 He has slaughtered oxen, fatlings, and sheep in great numbers; he has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the general of the army, but not your servant Solomon.
20 Yet you are the man, my lord king, to whom al Israel looks, to tel them who is to succeed my lord theking.	20 Now, my lord king, all Israel is waiting for you to make known to them who is to sit on the throne after your royal majesty.
21 And when my lord the king fal s asleep with his ancestors, Solomon and I shal be made to suffer forthis.'	21 If this is not done, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals."
22 She was stil speaking to the king when the prophet Nathan came in.	22 While she was still speaking to the king, the prophet Nathan came in.
23 The king was told, 'The prophet Nathan is here'; and he came into the king's presence and prostratedhimself on his face before the king.	23 When he had been announced, the prophet entered the king's presence and, bowing to the floor, did him homage.
24 'My lord king,' said Nathan, 'is this, then, your decree, "Adonijah is to be king after me; he is the onewho is to sit on my throne"?	24 Then Nathan said: "Have you decided, my lord king, that Adonijah is to reign after you and sit on your throne?
25 For he has gone down today and sacrificed quantities of oxen, fattened calves and sheep, and invitedal the royal princes, the army commanders, and the priest Abiathar; and they are there now, eating and drinkingin his presence and shouting, "Long live King Adonijah!"	25 He went down today and slaughtered oxen, fatlings, and sheep in great numbers; he invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest, and they are eating and drinking in his company and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'
26 He has not, however, invited me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or yourservant Solomon.	26 But me, your servant, he did not invite; nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon.
27 Can it be that this is done with my lord the king's approval and that you have not told those loyal to youwho is to succeed to the throne of my lord the king?'	27 Was this done by my royal master's order without my being told who was to succeed to your majesty's kingly throne?"
28 King David then spoke. 'Cal Bathsheba to me,' he said. And she came into the king's presence andstood before him.	28 King David answered, "Call Bathsheba here." When she re-entered the king's presence and stood before him,
29 Then the king swore this oath, 'As Yahweh lives, who has delivered me from all adversity,	29 the king swore, "As the LORD lives, who has delivered me from all distress,
30 just as I swore to you by Yahweh, God of Israel, that your son Solomon should be king after me andtake my place on my throne, so I shal bring it about this very day.'	30 this very day I will fulfill the oath I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, that your son Solomon should reign after me and should sit upon my throne in my place."
31 Bathsheba knelt down, prostrated herself on her face before the king and said, 'May my lord KingDavid live for ever!'	31 Bowing to the floor in homage to the king, Bathsheba said, "May my lord, King David, live forever!"
32 Then King David said, 'Summon Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.'So they came into the king's presence.	32 Then King David summoned Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, son of Jehoiada. When they had entered the king's presence,
33 'Take the royal guard with you,' said the king, 'mount my son Solomon on my own mule and escort himdown to Gihon.	33 he said to them: "Take with you the royal attendants. Mount my son Solomon upon my own mule and escort him down to Gihon.
34 There Zadok the priest and the prophet Nathan are to anoint him king of Israel; then sound the trumpetand shout, "Long live King Solomon!"	34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king of Israel, and you shall blow the horn and cry, 'Long live King Solomon!'
35 Then you are to escort him back, and he is then to assume my throne and be king in place of me, forhe is the man whom I have appointed as ruler of Israel and of Judah.'	35 When you come back in his train, he is to go in and sit upon my throne and reign in my place. I designate him ruler of Israel and of Judah."
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king. 'Amen!' he said. 'And may Yahweh, God of my lord theking, confirm it!	36 In answer to the king, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, said: "So be it! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so decree!
37 As Yahweh has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon and make his throne evengreater than the throne of my lord King David!'	37 As the LORD has been with your royal majesty, so may he be with Solomon, and exalt his throne even more than that of my lord, King David!"
38 Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethitesthen went down; they mounted Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon.	38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites went down, and mounting Solomon on King David's mule, escorted him to Gihon.
39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent and anointed Solomon. They sounded the trumpetand all the people shouted, 'Long live King Solomon!'	39 Then Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. They blew the horn and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"
40 The people al escorted him back, with pipes playing and loud rejoicing and shouts to split the earth.	40 Then all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing so much as to split open the earth with their shouting.
41 Adonijah and his guests, who had by then finished their meal, al heard the noise. Joab too heard thesound of the trumpet and said, 'What is that noise of uproar in the city?'	41 Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it, just as they ended their banquet. When Joab heard the sound of the horn, he asked, "What does this uproar in the city mean?"
42 While he was stil speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. 'Come in,' Adonijah said, 'youare an honest man, so you must be bringing good news.'	42 As he was speaking, Jonathan, son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. "Come," said Adonijah, "you are a man of worth and must bring good news."
43 'The truth is,' Jonathan answered, 'our lord King David has made Solomon king.	43 "On the contrary!" Jonathan answered him. "Our lord, King David, has made Solomon king.
44 With him, the king sent Zadok the priest, the prophet Nathan, Benaiah son of Jehoiada and theCherethites and Pelethites; they mounted him on the king's mule,	44 The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they mounted him upon the king's own mule.
45 and Zadok the priest and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have goneback again with shouts of joy and the city is now in an uproar; that was the noise you heard.	45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king at Gihon, and they went up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. That is the noise you heard.
46 What is more, Solomon is seated on the royal throne.	46 Besides, Solomon took his seat on the royal throne,
47 And further, the king's officers have been to congratulate our lord King David with the words, "May yourGod make the name of Solomon more glorious than yours, and his throne more exalted than your own!" And theking bowed down on his bed,	47 and the king's servants went in and paid their respects to our lord, King David, saying, 'May God make Solomon more famous than you and exalt his throne more than your own!' And the king in his bed worshiped God,
48 and then said, "Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel, for setting one of my own sons on the throne while Iam stil alive to see it!" '	48 and this is what he said: 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has this day seated one of my sons upon my throne, so that I see it with my own eyes.'"
49 At this, all Adonijah's guests, taking fright, got up and made off in their several directions.	49 All the guests of Adonijah left in terror, each going his own way.
50 Adonijah, in terror of Solomon, got up and ran off to cling to the horns of the altar.	50 Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, also left; he went and seized the horns of the altar.
51 Solomon was told, 'You should know that Adonijah is terrified of King Solomon and is now clinging tothe horns of the altar, saying, "Let King Solomon first swear to me that he will not have his servant executed." '	51 It was reported to Solomon that Adonijah, in his fear of King Solomon, had seized the horns of the altar and said, "Let King Solomon first swear that he will not kill me, his servant, with the sword."
52 'Should he bear himself honourably,' Solomon answered, 'not one hair of his shal fal to the ground;but if he proves difficult, he shal die.'	52 Solomon answered, "If he proves himself worthy, not a hair shall fall from his head. But if he is found guilty of crime, he shall die."
53 King Solomon then sent for him to be brought down from the altar; he came and threw himselfprostrate before King Solomon; Solomon said to him, 'Go to your house.'	53 King Solomon sent to have him brought down from the altar, and he came and paid homage to the king. Solomon then said to him, "Go to your home."