1 Kings 2

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

Now when it was almost time for David to die, he told his son Solomon,

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

I follow the path of everyone on Earth: so be brave and act like a real adult.

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:

Follow God's rules from the Moses's teachings to do well in everything you do and wherever you go.

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.

So that the LORD can keep his promise about me, he said if my children listen and follow the right path with all their hearts and souls, one of them will always have a place on the throne of Israel.

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.

You also know about what Joab, son of Zeruiah, did to me and how he treated the two leaders of Israel's armies. He killed Abner, son of Ner, and Amasa, son of Jether. Joab spilled war blood in times of peace and even wore it on his belt and shoes.

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

So act wisely, and don't let the old person's gray hair rest peacefully in death.

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.

But be kind to Barzillai's sons, Gileadites, and let them eat with you. They helped me when I ran away from Absalom, your brother.

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.

And look, you have Shimei, son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me severely when I went to Mahanaim. But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by God, saying, I won't kill you with a sword.

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.

So now, don't let him go unpunished. You are smart and know what you should do to him. But make sure his gray hair leads to his death in blood.

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

So David went to sleep forever with his ancestors, and was laid to rest in the city named after him.

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.

David ruled Israel for 40 years. He was king of Hebron for 7 years and then ruled Jerusalem for 33 years.

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

Then, Solomon took his father David's place on the throne, and his rule became very strong.

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

Adonijah, son of Haggith, visited Bathsheba, Solomon's mom. She asked if he came in peace, and he said yes.

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

He also added, I have something else to tell you. She replied, Go ahead.

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.

He said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and everyone in Israel wanted me to rule. But now, it has been given to my brother instead, because the Lord decided it should be that way."

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

Now, I'm asking just one thing from you, please don't say no. She told him, Go ahead.

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.

He asked, "Tell Solomon the king to marry Abishag the Shunammite, because he won't refuse."

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

And Bathsheba agreed, saying, "I'll talk to the king for you."

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.

Bathsheba went to King Solomon to help Adonijah. The king stood up, bent over, and sat back down on his throne. He also had a chair placed for his mom, who then sat next to him on his right side.

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.

Then she asked, Please grant me one little request; please don't refuse me. And the king told her, Go ahead and ask, my dear; because I won't deny you.

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

She said, "Give Abishag, the woman from Shunam, to Adonijah, your brother, as his wife."

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.

King Solomon replied, "Why do you want Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him to be king too, because he is my older brother. Also ask for Abiathar the priest and Joab, Zeruiah's son."

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.

Then King Solomon swore by God, saying, "May the same thing happen to me too if Adonijah hasn't spoken this against his own life."

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.

So now, since the Lord is alive and has given me power, just like he did for my father David by putting him on the throne, and has built a strong kingdom for me as he promised, we must make sure that Adonijah is punished today.

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

King Solomon had Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, send someone to kill a person, and Benaiah did it.

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.

The king told Abiathar the priest, "Go to Anathoth to your fields. You deserve to die, but I won't do it now. You carried the ark of God for my father David and suffered like he did."

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.

So, Solomon removed Abiathar as the priest for God. He did this to follow God's promise about the family of Eli in a place called Shiloh.

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.

Then news reached Joab because Joab supported Adonijah but not Absalom. So, Joab ran to God's tent and grabbed onto the altar's horns.

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.

King Solomon was informed that Joab had run to the LORD's shelter and was now near the altar. So, Solomon ordered Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to go and attack him.

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.

Benaiah went to the LORD's shelter and told him the king's message to come out. But he replied, "No, I want to die here." Benaiah then informed the king about Joab's words and his response.

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.

And the king told him, Follow his instructions, attack him, and kill him. This will help remove the guilt of Joab's unjust killing from me and my family's household.

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.

And God will punish the person who killed two more righteous men than him, which David, my father, didn't know about. These men were Abner, leader of Israel's army, and Amasa, leader of Judah's army.

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.

Joab's and his family's blood will always be on them as a punishment. But David, his family, and their kingdom will have eternal peace from God.

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.

Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, attacked and killed him. Then, he was buried in his own house in a desert area.

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.

The king placed Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, in charge of his army. He also put Zadok, a priest, in the place previously held by Abiathar.

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.

The king ordered Shimei to build a home in Jerusalem and stay there, not leaving.

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.

On the day you leave and cross the Kidron stream, you will realize that you will definitely die. Your death is your own responsibility.

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.

Shimei told the king, "Your words are great! I'll do what you asked, my lord. Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time."

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.

After three years passed, two of Shimei's servants left and went to King Achish of Gath. They informed Shimei that his servants were in Gath.

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.

Shimei got up, put saddle on his donkey, and went to Gath to see Achish for his workers. Shimei then left and brought back the workers from Gath.

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

Solomon learned that Shimei left Jerusalem and went to Gath before returning.

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.

The king summoned Shimei and asked him if he didn't swear by God to know that on the day he left and went anywhere, he would definitely die. Shimei replied that the message was good.

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

Why haven't you kept the LORD's promise and the rule I asked you to follow?

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;

The king told Shimei, "You know the bad things your heart has planned for David, my dad. So, God will make those bad things happen to you instead."

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

King Solomon will receive blessings, and David's throne will be firmly set by God forever.

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.

So, the king told Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, to do it, and he attacked him, so he died. Then Solomon got full control of the kingdom.