6 Act therefore ^yaccording to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

1 ⁿWhen David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 ^o“I am about to go the way of all the earth. ^pBe 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, ^qthat you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may ^restablish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ^s‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, ^tto walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, ^uyou shall not lack¹ a man on the throne of Israel.’

5 “Moreover, you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah ^vdid to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, ^wAbner the son of Ner, ^xand 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 ^yaccording to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.