1 Kings 1

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 King David was now a very old man, and though wrapped in bedclothes he could not keep warm.	1 Now king David had become elderly, and he had many days in his lifetime. And though he was covered with clothes, he was not warmed.
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 Therefore, his servants said to him: “Let us seek, for our lord the king, a young virgin. And let her stand before the king, and warm him, and sleep in his bosom, and provide warmth for our lord the king.”
3 Having searched for a beautiful girl throughout the territory of Israel, they found Abishag of Shunem andbrought her to the king.	3 And so they sought a beautiful young woman in all the parts of Israel. And they found Abishag, a Shunammite, and they led her 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 Now the girl was exceedingly beautiful. And she slept with the king, and she ministered to him. Yet truly, the king did not know 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 Then Adonijah, the son of Haggith, exalted himself, saying, “I shall reign!” And he appointed for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men who would run before him.
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 Neither did his father chastise him at any time, saying, “Why have you done this?” Now he, too, was very beautiful, the second in birth, after Absalom.
7 He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with the priest Abiathar, who both ral ied to Adonijah's cause;	7 And he conferred with Joab, the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar, the priest, who gave assistance to the side of Adonijah.
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 Yet truly, Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan, the prophet, and Shimei and Rei, and the mature men of the army of David were not 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 Then Adonijah, having immolated rams and calves and every kind of fat cattle beside the Stone of the Serpent, which was in the vicinity of the fountain Rogel, summoned all his brothers, the sons of the king, and all the men of Judah, the servants of the king.
10 but he did not invite the prophet Nathan, or Benaiah, or the champions, or his brother Solomon.	10 But he did not summon Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, and all the mature men, and Solomon, his brother.
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 And so Nathan said to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon: “Have you not heard that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has begun to reign, and that our lord David is ignorant of this?
12 Wel , this is my advice to you if you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.	12 Now then, come, accept my counsel, and save your life and the life 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 and enter to king David, and say to him: ‘Did you not, my lord the king, swear to me, your handmaid, saying: “Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he himself shall sit on my throne?” Then why does Adonijah reign?’
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 speaking with the king there, I will enter after you, and I will complete your words.”
15 So Bathsheba went to the king in his room (he was very old and Abishag of Shunem was in attendanceon him).	15 And so Bathsheba entered to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag, the Shunammite, was ministering to him.
16 She knelt, prostrated herself before the king, and the king said, 'What do you want?'	16 Bathsheba bowed herself, and she reverenced the king. And the king 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 And responding, she said: “My lord, you swore to your handmaid, by the Lord your God: ‘your son Solomon will reign after me, and he himself shall sit upon my throne.’
18 And now here is Adonijah king, and you, my lord king, knowing nothing about it!	18 And now behold, Adonijah reigns, while you, my lord the king, are ignorant of 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 slain oxen, and every kind of fattened cattle, and many rams. And he has summoned all the sons of the king, as well as Abiathar, the priest, and Joab, the leader of the military. But Solomon, your servant, he did not summon.
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 Truly now, my lord the king, the eyes of all of Israel look with favor upon you, that you may indicate to them who ought to sit upon your throne, my lord the king, after you.
21 And when my lord the king fal s asleep with his ancestors, Solomon and I shal be made to suffer forthis.'	21 Otherwise, this will be: when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be as sinners.”
22 She was stil speaking to the king when the prophet Nathan came in.	22 And while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan, the prophet, arrived.
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 And they announced to the king, saying, “Nathan, the prophet, is here.” And when he had entered in the sight of the king, and he had reverenced prone on the ground,
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 Nathan said: “My lord the king, did you say, ‘Let Adonijah reign after me, and let him sit upon my 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 For today, he descended, and he immolated oxen, and fattened cattle, and many rams. And he summoned all the sons of the king, and the leaders of the army, along with Abiathar, the priest. And they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘As king Adonijah lives.’
26 He has not, however, invited me your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or yourservant Solomon.	26 But he did not summon me, your servant, and Zadok, the priest, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and Solomon, your lowly servant.
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 Could this word have gone out from my lord the king, and could you not have revealed it to me, your servant, as to who would be seated upon the throne of my lord the king after him?”
28 King David then spoke. 'Cal Bathsheba to me,' he said. And she came into the king's presence andstood before him.	28 And king David responded, saying, “Summon to me Bathsheba.” And when she had entered before the king, and she had stood before him,
29 Then the king swore this oath, 'As Yahweh lives, who has delivered me from all adversity,	29 the king swore and said: “As the Lord lives, who has rescued my soul 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 just as I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Your son Solomon shall reign after me, and he himself shall sit upon my throne in my place,’ so shall I do this day.”
31 Bathsheba knelt down, prostrated herself on her face before the king and said, 'May my lord KingDavid live for ever!'	31 And Bathsheba, having lowered her face to the ground, reverenced the king, saying, “May my lord 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 And king David said, “Summon to me Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada.” And when they had entered before the king,
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 servants of your lord, and place my son Solomon upon my mule. And lead him 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 And let Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, anoint him in that place as the king over Israel. And you shall sound the trumpet, and you shall say, ‘As king Solomon lives.’
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 And you shall ascend after him, and he shall arrive and shall sit upon my throne. And he himself shall reign in my place. And I will command that he be the ruler over Israel and over Judah.”
36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king. 'Amen!' he said. 'And may Yahweh, God of my lord theking, confirm it!	36 And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, responded to the king, saying: “Amen. So says the Lord, the God of my lord the king.
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 In the same way that the Lord has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon. And may he make his throne more sublime than the throne 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 Then Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, descended, with Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites. And they placed Solomon on the mule of king David, and they led 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 And Zadok, the priest, took the horn of oil from the tabernacle, and he anointed Solomon. And they sounded the trumpet. And all the people said, “As king Solomon lives.”
40 The people al escorted him back, with pipes playing and loud rejoicing and shouts to split the earth.	40 And the entire multitude ascended after him. And the people were playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy. And the earth resounded before the noise of them.
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 Then Adonijah, and all who had been summoned by him, heard it. And now the feast had ended. Then, too, Joab, hearing the voice of the trumpet, said, “What is the meaning of this clamor from the tumultuous city?”
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 While he was still speaking, Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, arrived. And Adonijah said to him, “Enter, for you are a valiant man, and you report good news.”
43 'The truth is,' Jonathan answered, 'our lord King David has made Solomon king.	43 And Jonathan answered Adonijah: “By no means. For our lord king David has appointed Solomon as 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 And he has sent with him Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, and Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and Pelethites. And they have placed him on the mule of the king.
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 And Zadok, the priest, and Nathan, the prophet, have anointed him king, at Gihon. And they are ascending from there, rejoicing, and so the city resounds. This is the noise that you have heard.
46 What is more, Solomon is seated on the royal throne.	46 But also, Solomon sits upon the throne of the kingdom.
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 servants of the king, entering, have blessed our lord king David, saying: ‘May God amplify the name of Solomon above your name, and may he magnify his throne above your throne.’ And the king reverenced from his bed.
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 he said: ‘Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, who today has bestowed someone to sit upon my throne, while my eyes may see it.’ ”
49 At this, all Adonijah's guests, taking fright, got up and made off in their several directions.	49 Therefore, all those who had been summoned by Adonijah were terrified. And they all rose up, and each one went his own way.
50 Adonijah, in terror of Solomon, got up and ran off to cling to the horns of the altar.	50 Then Adonijah, fearing Solomon, rose up and went away. And he took hold of the horn 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 And they reported to Solomon, saying: “Behold, Adonijah, fearing king Solomon, has taken hold of the horn of the altar, saying: ‘May king Solomon swear to me this day that he will not put to death 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 And Solomon said: “If he is a good man, not so much as one hair of his head shall fall to the ground. But if evil is found in him, 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 Therefore, king Solomon sent and brought him from the altar. And entering, he reverenced king Solomon. And Solomon said to him, “Go to your own house.”