David’s Instructions to Solomon
1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 w“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, xthat you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to ywalk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack1 a man on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Moreover, you also know zwhat Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, avenging2 in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war3 on the belt around his4 waist and on the sandals on his feet. 6 Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his agray head go down to Sheol in peace. 7 But deal loyally with the sons of bBarzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who ceat at your table, for dwith such loyalty5 they met me when I efled from Absalom your brother. 8 And there is also with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, fwho cursed me with a grievous curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim. But gwhen he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ 9 Now therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.”
The Death of David
10 hThen David slept with his fathers iand was buried in the city of David. 11 And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned jseven years kin Hebron and thirty-three years lin Jerusalem. 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established.
The Death of David
26 tThus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned useven years vin Hebron and thirty-three years win Jerusalem. 28 Then he died xat a good age, yfull of days, zriches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of aSamuel the bseer, and in the Chronicles of cNathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of dGad the seer, 30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries.
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
who walks not in the bcounsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his cdelight is in the law2 of the Lord,
and on his law he dmeditates day and night.
3 eHe is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that fyields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he gprospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for hthe Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his jAnointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens klaughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
lThe Lord said to me, m“You are my nSon;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the oends of the earth your possession.
9 pYou shall break2 them with a qrod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 rKiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
sBlessed are all who take refuge in him.
