David’s Charge to Solomon^(A)

2 When the time drew near for David to die,^(B) he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

² “I am about to go the way of all the earth,”^(C) he said. “So be strong,^(D) act like a man, ³ and observe^(E) what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper^(F) in all you do and wherever you go ⁴ and that the Lord may keep his promise^(G) to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully^(H) before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

⁵ “Now you yourself know what Joab^(I) son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner^(J) son of Ner and Amasa^(K) son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. ⁶ Deal with him according to your wisdom,^(L) but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

⁷ “But show kindness^(M) to the sons of Barzillai^(N) of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table.^(O) They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

⁸ “And remember, you have with you Shimei^(P) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.^(Q) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore^(R) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ ⁹ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom;^(S) you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

¹⁰ Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried^(T) in the City of David.^{(U) 11} He had reigned^(V) forty years over Israel—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem.

⁶ Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build^(A) a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart^(B) to build^(C) a house for the Name^(D) of the Lord my God. ⁸ But this word of the Lord came to me: ‘You have shed much blood and have fought many wars.^(E) You are not to build a house for my Name,^(F) because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. ⁹ But you will have a son who will be a man of peace^(G) and rest,^(H) and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,^[a](I) and I will grant Israel peace and quiet^(J) during his reign. ¹⁰ He is the one who will build a house for my Name.^(K) He will be my son,^(L) and I will be his father. And I will establish^(M) the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’^(N)

¹¹ “Now, my son, the Lord be with^(O) you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. ¹² May the Lord give you discretion and understanding^(P) when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ¹³ Then you will have success^(Q) if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws^(R) that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous.^(S) Do not be afraid or discouraged.

¹⁴ “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents^[b] of gold, a million talents^[c] of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.^{(T) 15} You have many workers: stonecutters, masons and carpenters,^(U) as well as those skilled in every kind of work ¹⁶ in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen^(V) beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”

¹⁷ Then David ordered^(W) all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon. ¹⁸ He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest^(X) on every side?^(Y) For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. ¹⁹ Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.^(Z) Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord.”