A psalm of thanksgiving. II. SAMUEL. David's last words. 18 He delivered me from my strong save; even unto the LORD, but he answerenemy, and from them that hated me: for ed them not. they were too strong for me. : 19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity but the LORD was my stay. 20 He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me. 21 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. 43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad. 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. 45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. 46 Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places. 47 The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, 25 Therefore the LORD hath recom- 49 And that bringeth me forth from pensed me according to my righteousne s; mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up according to my cleanness in his eye-sight. on high above them that rose up against 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thy-me: thou hast delivered me from the vioself merciful, and with the upright man lent man. thou wilt shew thyself upright. 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thy-thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I self pure; and with the froward thou wilt will sing praises unto thy name. shew thyself unsavoury. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt king and sheweth mercy to his anointed, save but thine eyes are upon the haughty, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. that thou mayest bring them down. CHAP. XXIII. 29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness. TOW these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the 30 For by thee I have run through a man who was raised up on high, the anointtroop: by my God have I leaped overa wall. Jed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet 31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 32 For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God? 33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. 34 Ile maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places. 35 He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms. 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them. 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet. 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me. 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me. 42 They looked, but there was none to psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. 6 T But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands: 7 But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place. 8 T These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite : he lifted up his spear against eigt hund.ed, whom he slow at one time. A catalogue of CHAP. XXIV. David's mighty men. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty mighty men. men with David, when they defied the 23 He was more honourable than the Philistines that were there gathered toge- thirty, but he attained not to the first ther to battle, and the men of Israel were three. And David set him over his guard. 24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one gone away: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines of the thirty; Elhanau the son of Dodo of until his hand was weary, and his hand Beth-lehem, clave unto the sword: and the LORD 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the wrought a great victory that day; and the Harodite, people returned after him only to spoil. 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son al Ikkesh the Tekoite, 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite, 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines. were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophaground, and defended it, and slew the thite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeali Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great of the children of Benjamin, victory. 13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim. 14 And David was then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem. 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash, 31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite; of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan, 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite, 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobab, drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, Bani the Gadite, that was by the gate, and took it, and 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the brought it to David: nevertheless he Beerothite, armour-bearer to Joab the son would not drink thereof, but poured it out of Zeruiah, unto the Lord. 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite, 17 And he said, Be it far from me, 0 LORD, that I should do this: is not this the in all. blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. CHAP. XXIV. ND again the anger of the LORD was David against them to say, Go, number 18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, Israel and Judah. the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. 2 For the king said to Joab, the captain And he lifted up his spear against three of the host, which was with him, Go now hundred, and slew them, and had the through all the tribes of Israe!, from Dan name among three. even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the 19 Was he not most honourable of three? people, that I may know the number of therefore he was their captain: howbeit the people. he attained not unto the first three. 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, LORD thy God add unto the people, how the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who many soever they be, a hundred-fold, had done many acts, he slew two lion-like and that the eyes of my lord the king may men of Moab: he went down also and see it: but why doth my lord the king slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of delight in this thing? snow: 4 Notwithstanding the king's word pre 21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly vailed against Joab, and against the capman: and the Egyptian had a spear in his tains of the host. And Joab and the caphand; but he went down to him with a tains of the host went out from the prestaff, and plucked the spear out of the sence of the king, to number the people Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his of Israel. own spear. 5 And they passed over Jordan, and 22 These things did Benaiah the son of pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the David numbers the people. 1. KINGS. His intercession to God. city that lieth in the midst of the river of LORD repented him of the evil, and said Gad, and toward Jazer: to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thy hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon, 7 And came to the strong hold of Tyre, 17 And David spake unto the LORD and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of when he saw the angel that smote the peothe Canaanites: and they went out to the ple, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I south of Judah, even to Beer-sheba. have done wickedly but these sheep, what have they done? Let thy hand, Í pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. : 9 And Joab gave up the sum of the 18 ¶ And Gad came that day to David, number of the people unto the king and and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar there were in Israel eight hundred thou- unto the LORD in the threshing-floor of sand valiant men that drew the sword; Araunah the Jebusite. and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men. 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded. 10 And David's heart smote him after 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the that he had numbered the people. And king and his servants coming on toward David said unto the LORD, I have sinned him: And Araunah went out, and bowed greatly in that I have done and now, I himself before the king on his face upon beseech thee, O LORD, take away the the ground. iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose my lord the king take and offer up what thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. seemeth good unto him: behold, here be 13 So Gad came to David, and told oxen for burnt-sacrifice, and threshing-inhim, and said unto him, Shall seven years struments and other instruments of the of famine come unto thee in thy land? or oxen for wood. wilt thou flee three months before thine 23 All these things did Araunah, as a enemies, while they pursue thee? or that king, give unto the king. And Araunah there be three days' pestilence in thy land? said unto the king, The LORD thy God Now advise, and see what answer I shall accept thee. return to him that sent me. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, 14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a great strait: let us fall now into the hand price: neither will I offer burnt-offerings of the LORD; for his mercies are great; unto the LORD my God of that which doth and let me not fall into the hand of man. cost me nothing. So David bought the 15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty sheIsrael from the morning even to the time kels of silver. appointed and there died of the people 25 And David built there an altar unto from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy the LORD, and offered burnt-offerings and thousand men. peace-offerings. So the LORD was en16 And when the angel stretched out treated for the land, and the plague was his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the stayed from Israel. ¶ The First Book of the KINGS, commonly called, The Third Book of the KINGS. Now CHAP. I. 3 So they sought for a fair damsel OW king David was old and stricken throughout all the coasts of Israel, and in years; and they covered him found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought with clothes, but he gat no heat. her to the king. 2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, 4 And the damsel was very fair, and Let there be sought for my lord the king cherished the king, and ministered to a young virgin: and let her stand before him: but the king knew her not. the king, and let her cherish him, and let 5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king exalted himself, saying, I will be king: may get heat. and he prepared him chariots and horse Adonijah usurps the kingdom. CHAP. I. David declares Solomon king. men, and fifty men to run before him. when my lord the king shall sleep with his 6 And his father had not displeased him fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall at any time in saying, Why hast thou done be counted offenders. so? and he also was a very goodly_man;} and his mother bare him after Absalom. 22 And lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in. 7 And he conferred with Joab the son 23 And they told the king, saying, Beof Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: hold Nathan the prophet. And when he and they,following Adonijah, helped him. was come in before the king, he bowed 8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah himself before the king with his face to the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the pro- the ground. phet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the 24 And Nathan said, My lord, O king, mighty men which belonged to David, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after were not with Adonijah. me, and he shall sit upon my throne? 9 And Adonijah slew sheep, and oxen, 25 For he is gone down this day, and and fat cattle, by the stone of Zoheleth, hath slain oxen, and fat cattle, and sheep which is by En-rogel, and called all his in abundance, and hath called all the brethren the king's sons, and all the men king's sons, and the captains of the host, of Judah the king's servants : and Abiathar the priest; and behold, they 10 But Nathan the prophet, and Be- eat and drink before him, and say, God naiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon save king Adonijah. his brother, he called not. 26 But me, even me thy servant, and 11 Wherefore Nathan spake unto Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, say- Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath ing, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah he not called. the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? 12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon. 27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him? 28 T Then king David answered and said, Call me Bath-sheba. And she came 13 Go, and get thee in unto king David, into the king's presence, and stood before and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, the king. O king, swear unto thy handmaid, say- 29 And the king sware, and said, As ing, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? soul out of all distress, why then doth Adonijah reign? 30 Even as I sware unto thee by the 14 Behold, while thou yet talkest there LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly with the king, I also will come in after Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and thee, and confirm thy words. he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day. 15 And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king. 31 Then Bath-shela bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David 16 And Bath-sheba bowed, and did live for ever. obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou? 32 ¶ And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, 17 And she said unto him, My lord, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto they came before the king. thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solo- 33 The king also said unto them, Take mon thy son shall reign after me, and he with you the servants of your lord, and shall sit upon my throne. cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reign- own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: eth; and now, my lord the king, thou 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan knowest it not : the prophet anoint him there king over 19 And he hath slain oxen, and fat cat- Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and tle, and sheep in abundance, and hath say, God save king Solomon. called all the sons of the king, and Abia- 35 Then ye shall come up after him, thar the priest, and Joab the captain of that he may come and sit upon my throne; the host but Solomon thy servant hath for he shall be king in my stead: and I have he not called. appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah. 20 And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, 36 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too. 37 As the LORD hath been with my Adonijah's fear. 1. KINGS. David's charge to Solomon. lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, unto me to-day that he will not slay his and make his throne greater than the servant with the sword. throne of my lord king David. 52 And Solomon said, If he will shew 38 So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the himself a worthy man, there shall not a prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickand the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, jedness shall be found in him, he shall die. went down, and caused Solomon to ride 53 So king Solomon sent, and they upon king David's mule, and brought him brought him down from the altar. And to Gihon. he came and bowed himself to king Solo39 And Zadok the priest took a horn mon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed thy house. Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king So lomon. 40 And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them. CHAP. II. he should die; and he charged Solo OW the days of David drew nigh that mon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy 41 And Adonijah and all the guests God, to walk in his ways, to keep his stathat were with him heard it as they had tutes, and his commandments, and his made an end of eating. And when Joab judgments, and his testimonies, as it is heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, written in the law of Moses, that thou Wherefore is this noise of the city being mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and in an uproar? whithersoever thou turnest thyself. 42 And while he yet spake, behold, 4 That the LORD may continue his Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest word which he spake concerning me, saycame: and Adonijah said unto him, Come ing, If thy children take heed to their in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest way, to walk before me in truth,with all good tidings. their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. 43 And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king. 5 Moreover, thou knowest also what 44 And the king hath sent with him Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, what he did to the two captains of the hosts and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he have caused him to ride upon the king's slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, mule: and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. 45 And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard. 46 And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom. 6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. 7 But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of 47 And moreover the king's servants those that eat at thy table: for so they came to bless our lord king David, saying, came to me when I fled because of AbsaGod make the name of Solomon better lom thy brother. than thy name, and make his throne greater 8 And behold, thou hast with thee Shithan thy throne. And the king bowed him- mei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Baself upon the bed. hurim, which cursed me with a grievous 48 And also thus said the king, Blessed curse in the day when I went to Mahabe the LORD God of Israel, which hath naim: but he came down to meet me at given one to sit on my thrones this day, Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, mine eyes even seeing it. saying, I will not put thee to death with 49 And all the guests that were with the sword. Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and 9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: went every man bis way. for thou art a wise man, and knowest what 50 ¶ And Adonijah feared because of thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught head bring thou down to the grave with hold on the horns of the altar. blood. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying,' 10 So David slept with his fathers, and Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: was buried in the city of David. for lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of 11 And the days that David reigned the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear over Israel were forty years: seven years |