Now king David was old, and advanced in years: and when he was covered with clothes, he was not warm.

Et rex David senuerat, habebatque ætatis plurimos dies: cumque operiretur vestibus, non calefiebat.

And now David had grown old, and so chilled with age that there was no warming him by heaping coverlets on his bed;

His servants therefore said to him: Let us seek for our lord the king, a young virgin, and let her stand before the king, and cherish him, and sleep in his bosom, and warm our lord the king.

Dixerunt ergo ei servi sui: Quæramus domino nostro regi adolescentulam virginem, et stet coram rege, et foveat eum, dormiatque in sinu suo, et calefaciat dominum nostrum regem.

so his attendants asked leave of him to go and find a young maid, who should be brought to the court and cherish him by sleeping in his bosom, to give their royal master warmth.

So they sought a beautiful young woman in all the coasts of Israel, and they found Abisag a Sunamitess, and brought her to the king.

Quæsierunt igitur adolescentulam speciosam in omnibus finibus Israël, et invenerunt Abisag Sunamitidem, et adduxerunt eam ad regem.

And of all the fair maids in Israel they chose out one, Abisag from Sunam, who was brought into the king’s presence;

And the damsel was exceeding beautiful, and she slept with the king: and served him, but the king did not know her.

Erat autem puella pulchra nimis, dormiebatque cum rege, et ministrabat ei: rex vero non cognovit eam.

a fair maid indeed, who now shared the king’s bed and waited on him, yet never did the king mate with her.

And Adonias the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying: I will be king. And he made himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

Adonias autem filius Haggith elevabatur, dicens: Ego regnabo. Fecitque sibi currus et equites, et quinquaginta viros qui currerent ante eum.

Meanwhile Adonias, David’s son by Haggith, aspired to win the throne; he must drive in state, with chariots and outriders, and fifty men to run before him;

Neither did his father rebuke him at any time, saying: Why hast thou done this? And he also was very beautiful, the next in birth after Absalom.

Nec corripuit eum pater suus aliquando, dicens: Quare hoc fecisti? Erat autem et ipse pulcher valde, secundus natu post Absalom.

and never a word did his father say to check or challenge him; he came next to Absalom in birth, and was like Absalom for beauty.

And he conferred with Joab the son of Sarvia, and with Abiathar the priest, who furthered Adonias’s side.

Et sermo ei cum Joab filio Sarviæ, et cum Abiathar sacerdote, qui adjuvabant partes Adoniæ.

Joab, son of Sarvia, and the priest Abiathar were in his confidence; but, while these favoured Adonias’s cause,

But Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Semei, and Rei, and the strength of David’s army was not with Adonias.

Sadoc vero sacerdos, et Banaias filius Jojadæ, et Nathan propheta, et Semei et Rei, et robur exercitus David, non erat cum Adonia.

he could not win over the priest Sadoc, and Banaias son of Joiada, and the prophet Nathan, Semei and Rei and the picked men of David’s army.

And Adonias having slain rams and calves, and all fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which was near the fountain Rogel, invited all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Juda, the king’s servants:

Immolatis ergo Adonias arietibus et vitulis, et universis pinguibus, juxta lapidem Zoheleth, qui erat vicinus fonti Rogel, vocavit universos fratres suos filios regis, et omnes viros Juda servos regis.

Adonias, then, would offer sacrifice of rams and calves and other fattened beasts at the Stone of Zoheleth, by Enrogel spring; bidding his brother princes there as guests, and the men of Juda that were in David’s service,

But Nathan the prophet, and Banaias, and all the valiant men, and Solomon his brother, he invited not.

Nathan autem prophetam, et Banaiam, et robustos quosque, et Salomonem fratrem suum non vocavit.

but not the prophet Nathan, or Banaias, or the leaders of the army, or his brother Solomon.

And Nathan said to Bethsabee the mother of Solomon: Hast thou not heard that Adonias the son of Haggith reigneth, and our lord David knoweth it not?

Dixit itaque Nathan ad Bethsabee matrem Salomonis: Num audisti quod regnaverit Adonias filius Haggith, et dominus noster David hoc ignorat?

Thereupon Nathan said to Solomon’s mother Bethsabee, Hast thou heard the news that Haggith’s son Adonias has come to the throne, and our lord king David none the wiser?

Now then come, take my counsel and save thy life, and the life of thy son Solomon.

Nunc ergo veni, accipe consilium a me, et salva animam tuam, filiique tui Salomonis.

Act quickly, following the advice I now give thee, if thou wouldst protect thyself, and thy son Solomon, from mortal peril.

Go, and get thee in to king David, and say to him: Didst not thou, my lord O king, swear to me thy handmaid, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne? why then doth Adonias reign?

Vade, et ingredere ad regem David, et dic ei: Nonne tu, domine mi rex, jurasti mihi ancillæ tuæ, dicens: Salomon filius tuus regnabit post me, et ipse sedebit in solio meo? quare ergo regnat Adonias?

Go and demand access to king David’s presence; ask him openly, My lord King, didst thou not promise me, thy handmaid, upon oath, to let my son Solomon be thy heir, and succeed to thy throne? How comes it that Adonias is king?

And while thou art yet speaking there with the king, I will come in after thee, and will fill up thy words.

Et adhuc ibi te loquente cum rege, ego veniam post te, et complebo sermones tuos.

And while thou art still speaking, I will come in after thee, and lend weight to these words of thine.

So Bethsabee went in to the king into the chamber: now the king was very old, and Abisag the Sunamitess ministered to him.

Ingressa est itaque Bethsabee ad regem in cubiculum: rex autem senuerat nimis, et Abisag Sunamitis ministrabat ei.

So Bethsabee gained access to the king’s own room, where he sat, an old, old man, with Abisag the Sunamite in attendance on him.

Bethsabee bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king said to her: What is thy will?

Inclinavit se Bethsabee, et adoravit regem. Ad quam rex: Quid tibi, inquit, vis?

Low was the reverence Bethsabee made, and when the king asked what was her will,

She answered and said: My lord, thou didst swear to thy handmaid by the Lord thy God, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.

Quæ respondens, ait: Domine mi, tu jurasti per Dominum Deum tuum ancillæ tuæ: Salomon filius tuus regnabit post me, et ipse sedebit in solio meo.

she answered, My lord, thou didst swear to me by the Lord thy God that my son Solomon should be thy heir, and succeed to thy throne;

And behold now Adonias reigneth, and thou, my lord the king, knowest nothing of it.

Et ecce nunc Adonias regnat, te, domine mi rex, ignorante.

and here is Adonias already reigning, while thou, my lord king, art kept in ignorance.

He hath killed oxen, and all fat cattle, and many rams, and invited all the king’s sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the general of the army: but Solomon thy servant he invited not.

Mactavit boves, et pinguia quæque, et arietes plurimos, et vocavit omnes filios regis, Abiathar quoque sacerdotem, et Joab principem militiæ: Salomonem autem servum tuum non vocavit.

Nay, he has sacrificed bulls, fattened beasts, and rams without number, with the priest Abiathar, and Joab, the commander of thy men, for his guests, and all the princes except thy servant Solomon.

And now, my lord O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldst tell them, who shall sit on thy throne, my lord the king, after thee.

Verumtamen, domine mi rex, in te oculi respiciunt totius Israël, ut indices eis quis sedere debeat in solio tuo, domine mi rex, post te.

My lord king, all Israel looks to thee for a sign, to know who shall sit on thy royal throne after thee.

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king sleepeth with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.

Eritque, cum dormierit dominus meus rex cum patribus suis, erimus ego et filius meus Salomon peccatores.

How shall we fare, I and my son Solomon, when the king’s grace has been laid to rest with his fathers? Our lives will be forfeit.

As she was yet speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came.

Adhuc illa loquente cum rege, Nathan propheta venit.

She was still speaking with the king, when the prophet Nathan came,

And they told the king, saying: Nathan the prophet is here. And when he was come in before the king, and had worshipped, bowing down to the ground,

Et nuntiaverunt regi, dicentes: Adest Nathan propheta. Cumque introisset in conspectu regis, et adorasset eum pronus in terram,

and word was brought in that the prophet Nathan was in attendance. So in he came, and made his reverence before the king, with his face bowed to the ground;

Nathan said: My lord O king, hast thou said: Let Adonias reign after me, and let him sit upon my throne?

dixit Nathan: Domine mi rex, tu dixisti: Adonias regnet post me, et ipse sedeat super thronum meum?

Lord King, he said, was it thy decree that Adonias should be thy heir, and succeed to thy throne?

Because he is gone down to day, and hath killed oxen, and fatlings, and many rams, and invited all the king’s sons, and the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest: and they are eating and drinking before him, and saying: God save king Adonias:

Quia descendit hodie, et immolavit boves, et pinguia, et arietes plurimos, et vocavit universos filios regis et principes exercitus, Abiathar quoque sacerdotem, illisque vescentibus et bibentibus coram eo, et dicentibus: Vivat rex Adonias:

Away he goes, to offer up bulls, fatten beasts, and rams without number; all the princes are summoned to the feast, and the chiefs of the army, and the priest Abiathar; and there they sit, eating and drinking, while the cry goes up, Long live king Adonias!

But me thy servant, and Sadoc the priest, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and Solomon thy servant he hath not invited.

me servum tuum, et Sadoc sacerdotem, et Banaiam filium Jojadæ, et Salomonem famulum tuum non vocavit.

As for me, thy servant, and the priest Sadoc, and Banaias son of Joiada, and prince Solomon, no summons came to us.

Is this word come out from my lord the king, and hast thou not told me thy servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?

Numquid a domino meo rege exivit hoc verbum, et mihi non indicasti servo tuo quis sessurus esset super thronum domini mei regis post eum?

Can it be that the king’s grace has made this decree, without a word to me, his servant, to say who should succeed my lord the king on his throne?

And king David answered and said: Call to me Bethsabee. And when she was come in to the king, and stood before him,

Et respondit rex David, dicens: Vocate ad me Bethsabee. Quæ cum fuisset ingressa coram rege, et stetisset ante eum,

Send for Bethsabee, king David answered; and when she had come in, and stood there in the royal presence,

The king swore and said: As the Lord liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress,

juravit rex, et ait: Vivit Dominus, qui eruit animam meam de omni angustia,

the king took an oath: As the Lord is a living God, he who has preserved my life against all perils,

Even as I swore to thee by the Lord the God of Israel, saying: Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead, so will I do this day.

quia sicut juravi tibi per Dominum Deum Israël, dicens: Salomon filius tuus regnabit post me, et ipse sedebit super solium meum pro me: sic faciam hodie.

my sworn word to thee, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, that thy son Solomon should be my heir and succeed to my throne, shall be fulfilled this day.

And Bethsabee bowing with her face to the earth worshipped the king, saying: May my lord David live for ever.

Summissoque Bethsabee in terram vultu, adoravit regem, dicens: Vivat dominus meus David in æternum.

And Bethsabee, bowing her face to the ground, did reverence; Unending life, said she, to my lord king David!

King David also said: Call me Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Joiada. And when they were come in before the king,

Dixit quoque rex David: Vocate mihi Sadoc sacerdotem, et Nathan prophetam, et Banaiam filium Jojadæ. Qui cum ingressi fuissent coram rege,

Then king David would have the priest Sadoc, and the prophet Nathan, and Banaias son of Joiada, summoned to his presence, and when these waited on him,

He said to them: Take with you the servants of your lord, and set my son Solomon upon my mule: and bring him to Gihon.

dixit ad eos: Tollite vobiscum servos domini vestri, et imponite Salomonem filium meum super mulam meam, et ducite eum in Gihon.

his orders were: Take the royal troops with you, and escort my son Solomon, mounted upon my own mule, to Gihon;

And let Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and you shall sound the trumpet, and shall say: God save king Solomon.

Et ungat eum ibi Sadoc sacerdos et Nathan propheta in regem super Israël: et canetis buccina, atque dicetis: Vivat rex Salomon.

there let him be made king of Israel, with the priest Sadoc and the prophet Nathan to anoint him; there sound the trumpet, and make proclamation, Long live king Solomon!

And you shall come up after him, and he shall come, and shall sit upon my throne, and he shall reign in my stead: and I will appoint him to be ruler over Israel, and over Juda.

Et ascendetis post eum, et veniet, et sedebit super solium meum, et ipse regnabit pro me: illique præcipiam ut sit dux super Israël et super Judam.

Then bring him back, to sit on my throne and reign instead of me; to him I commit the charge of Israel and Juda alike.

And Banaias the son of Joiada answered the king, saying: Amen: so say the Lord the God of my lord the king.

Et respondit Banaias filius Jojadæ regi, dicens: Amen: sic loquatur Dominus Deus domini mei regis.

And Banaias son of Joiada cried, Well said! May the Lord, the God who protects the king’s grace, decree no otherwise;

As the Lord hath been with my lord the king, so be he with Solomon, and make his throne higher than the throne of my lord king David.

Quomodo fuit Dominus cum domino meo rege, sic sit cum Salomone, et sublimius faciat solium ejus a solio domini mei regis David.

as he has been with thee, so may he be with thy son, and make Solomon’s throne more glorious than the throne of David himself.

So Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet went down, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and Phelethi: and they set Solomon upon the mule of king David, and brought him to Gihon.

Descendit ergo Sadoc sacerdos, et Nathan propheta, et Banaias filius Jojadæ, et Cerethi, et Phelethi: et imposuerunt Salomonem super mulam regis David, et adduxerunt eum in Gihon.

Then Sadoc and Nathan and Banaias, mustering the Cerethites and the Phelethites, mounted Solomon on king David’s own mule, and escorted him to Gihon;

And Sadoc the priest took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon: and they sounded the trumpet, and all the people said: God save king Solomon.

Sumpsitque Sadoc sacerdos cornu olei de tabernaculo, et unxit Salomonem: et cecinerunt buccina, et dixit omnis populus: Vivat rex Salomon.

there, with a phial of oil brought out from the tabernacle, the priest Sadoc anointed Solomon king; and they sounded the trumpet, while the cry went up everywhere, Long live king Solomon!

And all the multitude went up after him, and the people played with pipes, and rejoiced with a great joy, and the earth rang with the noise of their cry.

Et ascendit universa multitudo post eum, et populus canentium tibiis, et lætantium gaudio magno: et insonuit terra a clamore eorum.

All the common folk went with him, and there was playing of flutes and great rejoicing, till earth echoed again with the noise of it.

And Adonias, and all that were invited by him, heard it, and now the feast was at an end: Joab also hearing the sound of the trumpet, said: What meaneth this noise of the city in an uproar?

Audivit autem Adonias, et omnes qui invitati fuerant ab eo: jamque convivium finitum erat: sed et Joab, audita voce tubæ, ait: Quid sibi vult clamor civitatis tumultuantis?

It reached Adonias and his guests when the banquet was already over; and Joab, as he heard the cries of the multitude, began asking what this uproar in the city might mean.

While he yet spoke, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonias said to him: Come in, because thou art a valiant man, and bringest good news.

Adhuc illo loquente, Jonathas filius Abiathar sacerdotis venit: cui dixit Adonias: Ingredere, quia vir fortis es, et bona nuntians.

The words were still on his lips when Jonathan approached, that was son to the priest Abiathar. Come in, cried Adonias; a brave fellow such as thou art surely brings good news.

And Jonathan answered Adonias: Not so: for our lord king David hath appointed Solomon king.

Responditque Jonathas Adoniæ: Nequaquam: dominus enim noster rex David regem constituit Salomonem:

That have I none, Jonathan answered him; our lord king David has given the throne to Solomon.

And hath sent with him Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Banaias the son of Joiada, and the Cerethi, and the Phelethi, and they have set him upon the king’s mule.

misitque cum eo Sadoc sacerdotem, et Nathan prophetam, et Banaiam filium Jojadæ, et Cerethi, et Phelethi, et imposuerunt eum super mulam regis.

Mounted on the royal mule, with the priest Sadoc and the prophet Nathan and Banaias son of Joiada, with the Cerethites too and the Phelethites for his escort, he has ridden to Gihon,

And Sadoc the priest, and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are gone up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again: this is the noise that you have heard.

Unxeruntque eum Sadoc sacerdos et Nathan propheta regem in Gihon: et ascenderunt inde lætantes, et insonuit civitas: hæc est vox quam audistis.

where Sadoc and Nathan anointed him king. And now they have come back in triumph, and all the city is echoing with it; that is the noise which has reached your ears.

Moreover Solomon sitteth upon the throne of the kingdom,

Sed et Salomon sedet super solium regni.

There Solomon sits on the royal throne,

And the king’s servants going in have blessed our lord king David, saying: May God make the name of Solomon greater than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king adored in his bed:

Et ingressi servi regis benedixerunt domino nostro regi David, dicentes: Amplificet Deus nomen Salomonis super nomen tuum, et magnificet thronus ejus super thronum tuum. Et adoravit rex in lectulo suo:

while the courtiers shower blessings on our lord king David, praying God to make Solomon’s renown greater than his, Solomon’s domains wider than his; and he, lying on his bed, cries out in adoration,

And he said: Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, who hath given this day one to sit on my throne, my eyes seeing it.

et locutus est: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israël, qui dedit hodie sedentem in solio meo, videntibus oculis meis.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that has given me this day an heir to my throne, while I still have eyes to see it!

Then all the guests of Adonias were afraid, and they all arose and every man went his way.

Territi sunt ergo, et surrexerunt omnes qui invitati fuerant ab Adonia, et ivit unusquisque in viam suam.

His words spread terror, and all Adonias’ guests rose up, and scattered to their homes.

And Adonias fearing Solomon, arose, and went, and took hold on the horn of the altar.

Adonias autem timens Salomonem, surrexit, et abiit, tenuitque cornu altaris.

As for Adonias himself, in his great fear of Solomon he left the place and made his way to the altar, and clung to one of its horns.

And they told Solomon, saying: Behold Adonias, fearing king Solomon, hath taken hold of the horn of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear to me this day, that he will not kill his servant with the sword.

Et nuntiaverunt Salomoni, dicentes: Ecce Adonias timens regem Salomonem, tenuit cornu altaris, dicens: Juret mihi rex Salomon hodie, quod non interficiat servum suum gladio.

So news came to Solomon that Adonias, in fear of his royal brother, was clinging to the altar’s horn, crying out, I must have king Solomon’s oath this day that my life shall be spared!

And Solomon said: If he be a good man, there shall not so much as one hair of his head fall to the ground: but if evil be found in him, he shall die.

Dixitque Salomon: Si fuerit vir bonus, non cadet ne unus quidem capillus ejus in terram: sin autem malum inventum fuerit in eo, morietur.

Why, answered Solomon, prove he a loyal man, never a hair shall fall from his head; if he is found to be plotting mischief, he shall die for it.

Then king Solomon sent, and brought him out from the altar: and going in he worshipped king Solomon: and Solomon said to him: Go to thy house.

Misit ergo rex Salomon, et eduxit eum ab altari: et ingressus adoravit regem Salomonem: dixitque ei Salomon: Vade in domum tuam.

Then he sent to bring him away from the altar, and Adonias came into king Solomon’s presence, and did reverence there. And with that, Solomon sent him away to his house.