¹ And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

⁴ And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

⁵ And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

⁸ And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

¹¹ Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

¹⁴ Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

¹⁵ And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

¹⁶ David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

¹⁷ And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

¹⁸ And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

²⁰ Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

²¹ Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

²² And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

²³ But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

²⁴ And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

²⁵ And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

²⁶ And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

²⁷ And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

²⁸ Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

²⁹ And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

³⁰ And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

³¹ And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

---

¹ And the LORD ^H3068 sent ^H7971 Nathan ^H5416 unto David. ^H1732 And he came ^H935 unto him, and said ^H559 unto him, There were two ^H8147 men ^H582 in one ^H259 city; ^H5892 the one ^H259 rich, ^H6223 and the other ^H259 poor. ^H7326

² The rich ^H6223 man had exceeding ^H3966 many ^H7235 flocks ^H6629 and herds: ^H1241

³ But the poor ^H7326 man had nothing, save one ^H259 little ^H6996 ewe lamb, ^H3535 which he had bought ^H7069 and nourished up: ^H2421 and it grew up ^H1431 together ^H3162 with him, and with his children; ^H1121 it did eat ^H398 of his own meat, ^H6595 and drank ^H8354 of his own cup, ^H3563 and lay ^H7901 in his bosom, ^H2436 and was unto him as a daughter. ^H1323

⁴ And there came ^H935 a traveller ^H1982 unto the rich ^H6223 man, ^H376 and he spared ^H2550 to take ^H3947 of his own flock ^H6629 and of his own herd, ^H1241 to dress ^H6213 for the wayfaring man ^H732 that was come ^H935 unto him; but took ^H3947 the poor ^H7326 man's ^H376 lamb, ^H3535 and dressed ^H6213 it for the man ^H376 that was come ^H935 to him.

⁵ And David's ^H1732 anger ^H639 was greatly ^H3966 kindled ^H2734 against the man; ^H376 and he said ^H559 to Nathan, ^H5416 As the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 the man ^H376 that hath done ^H6213 this thing shall surely ^H1121 die: ^H4194

⁶ And he shall restore ^H7999 the lamb ^H3535 fourfold, ^H706 because ^H6118 he did ^H6213 this thing, ^H1697 and because ^H834 he had no pity. ^H2550

⁷ And Nathan ^H5416 said ^H559 to David, ^H1732 Thou art the man. ^H376 Thus saith ^H559 the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel, ^H3478 I anointed ^H4886 thee king ^H4428 over Israel, ^H3478 and I delivered ^H5337 thee out of the hand ^H3027 of Saul; ^H7586

⁸ And I gave ^H5414 thee thy master's ^H113 house, ^H1004 and thy master's ^H113 wives ^H802 into thy bosom, ^H2436 and gave ^H5414 thee the house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478 and of Judah; ^H3063 and if that had been too little, ^H4592 I would moreover have given ^H3254 unto thee such ^H2007 and such things. ^H2007

⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised ^H959 the commandment ^H1697 of the LORD, ^H3068 to do ^H6213 evil ^H7451 in his sight? ^H5869 thou hast killed ^H5221 Uriah ^H223 the Hittite ^H2850 with the sword, ^H2719 and hast taken ^H3947 his wife ^H802 to be thy wife, ^H802 and hast slain ^H2026 him with the sword ^H2719 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon. ^H5983

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword ^H2719 shall never ^{H5704 H5769} depart ^H5493 from thine house; ^H1004 because ^H6118 thou hast despised ^H959 me, and hast taken ^H3947 the wife ^H802 of Uriah ^H223 the Hittite ^H2850 to be thy wife. ^H802

¹¹ Thus saith ^H559 the LORD, ^H3068 Behold, I will raise up ^H6965 evil ^H7451 against thee out of thine own house, ^H1004 and I will take ^H3947 thy wives ^H802 before thine eyes, ^H5869 and give ^H5414 them unto thy neighbour, ^H7453 and he shall lie ^H7901 with thy wives ^H802 in the sight ^H5869 of this sun. ^H8121

¹² For thou didst ^H6213 it secretly: ^H5643 but I will do ^H6213 this thing ^H1697 before all Israel, ^H3478 and before the sun. ^H8121

¹³ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto Nathan, ^H5416 I have sinned ^H2398 against the LORD. ^H3068 And Nathan ^H5416 said ^H559 unto David, ^H1732 The LORD ^H3068 also hath put away ^H5674 thy sin; ^H2403 thou shalt not die. ^H4191

¹⁴ Howbeit, ^H657 because by this deed ^H1697 thou hast given ^H5006 great occasion ^H5006 to the enemies ^H341 of the LORD ^H3068 to blaspheme, ^H5006 the child ^H1121 also that is born ^H3209 unto thee shall surely ^H4191 die. ^H4191

¹⁵ And Nathan ^H5416 departed ^H3212 unto his house. ^H1004 And the LORD ^H3068 struck ^H5062 the child ^H3206 that Uriah's ^H223 wife ^H802 bare ^H3205 unto David, ^H1732 and it was very sick. ^H605

¹⁶ David ^H1732 therefore besought ^H1245 God ^H430 for the child; ^H5288 and David ^H1732 fasted, ^{H6684 H6685} and went in, ^H935 and lay ^H7901 all night ^H3885 upon the earth. ^H776

¹⁷ And the elders ^H2205 of his house ^H1004 arose, ^H6965 and went to him, to raise him up ^H6965 from the earth: ^H776 but he would ^H14 not, neither did he eat ^H1262 bread ^H3899 with them.

¹⁸ And it came to pass on the seventh ^H7637 day, ^H3117 that the child ^H3206 died. ^H4191 And the servants ^H5650 of David ^H1732 feared ^H3372 to tell ^H5046 him that the child ^H3206 was dead: ^H4191 for they said, ^H559 Behold, while the child ^H3206 was yet alive, ^H2416 we spake ^H1696 unto him, and he would not hearken ^H8085 unto our voice: ^H6963 how will he then ^H6213 vex ^H7451 himself, ^H6213 if we tell ^H559 him that the child ^H3206 is dead? ^H4191

¹⁹ But when David ^H1732 saw ^H7200 that his servants ^H5650 whispered, ^H3907 David ^H1732 perceived ^H995 that the child ^H3206 was dead: ^H4191 therefore David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto his servants, ^H5650 Is the child ^H3206 dead? ^H4191 And they said, ^H559 He is dead. ^H4191

²⁰ Then David ^H1732 arose ^H6965 from the earth, ^H776 and washed, ^H7364 and anointed ^H5480 himself, and changed ^H2498 his apparel, ^H8071 and came ^H935 into the house ^H1004 of the LORD, ^H3068 and worshipped: ^H7812 then he came ^H935 to his own house; ^H1004 and when he required, ^H7592 they set ^H7760 bread ^H3899 before him, and he did eat. ^H398

²¹ Then said ^H559 his servants ^H5650 unto him, What thing ^H1697 is this that thou hast done? ^H6213 thou didst fast ^H6684 and weep ^H1058 for the child, ^H3206 while it was alive; ^H2416 but when the child ^H3206 was dead, ^H4191 thou didst rise ^H6965 and eat ^H398 bread. ^H3899

²² And he said, ^H559 While the child ^H3206 was yet alive, ^H2416 I fasted ^H6684 and wept: ^H1058 for I said, ^H559 Who can tell ^H3045 whether GOD ^H3068 will be gracious ^{H2603 H2603} to me, that the child ^H3206 may live? ^H2416

²³ But now he is dead, ^H4191 wherefore should I fast? ^H6684 can ^H3201 I bring him back again? ^H7725 I shall go ^H1980 to him, but he shall not return ^H7725 to me.

²⁴ And David ^H1732 comforted ^H5162 Bathsheba ^H1339 his wife, ^H802 and went in ^H935 unto her, and lay ^H7901 with her: and she bare ^H3205 a son, ^H1121 and he called ^H7121 his name ^H8034 Solomon: ^H8010 and the LORD ^H3068 loved ^H157 him.

²⁵ And he sent ^H7971 by the hand ^H3027 of Nathan ^H5416 the prophet; ^H5030 and he called ^H7121 his name ^H8034 Jedidiah, ^H3041 because of the LORD. ^H3068

²⁶ And Joab ^H3097 fought ^H3898 against Rabbah ^H7237 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon, ^H5983 and took ^H3920 the royal ^H4410 city. ^H5892

²⁷ And Joab ^H3097 sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 to David, ^H1732 and said, ^H559 I have fought ^H3898 against Rabbah, ^H7237 and have taken ^H3920 the city ^H5892 of waters. ^H4325

²⁸ Now therefore gather ^H622 the rest ^H3499 of the people ^H5971 together, ^H622 and encamp ^H2583 against the city, ^H5892 and take ^H3920 it: lest I take ^H3920 the city, ^H5892 and it be called ^H7121 after my name. ^H8034

²⁹ And David ^H1732 gathered ^H622 all the people ^H5971 together, ^H622 and went ^H3212 to Rabbah, ^H7237 and fought ^H3898 against it, and took ^H3920 it.

³⁰ And he took ^H3947 their king's ^H4428 crown ^H5850 from off his head, ^H7218 the weight ^H4948 whereof was a talent ^H3603 of gold ^H2091 with the precious ^H3368 stones: ^H68 and it was set on David's ^H1732 head. ^H7218 And he brought forth ^H3318 the spoil ^H7998 of the city ^H5892 in great ^H3966 abundance. ^H7235

³¹ And he brought forth ^H3318 the people ^H5971 that were therein, and put ^H7760 them under saws, ^H4050 and under harrows ^H2757 of iron, ^H1270 and under axes ^H4037 of iron, ^H1270 and made them pass ^H5674 through the brickkiln: ^H4404 and thus did ^H6213 he unto all the cities ^H5892 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon. ^H5983 So David ^H1732 and all the people ^H5971 returned ^H7725 unto Jerusalem. ^H3389

---

¹ And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;

³ but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

⁴ And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

⁵ And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die:

⁶ and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

⁸ and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such things.

⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

¹¹ Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

¹⁴ Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

¹⁵ And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

¹⁶ David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

¹⁷ And the elders of his house arose, `and stood' beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

¹⁸ And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!

¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

²⁰ Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

²¹ Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

²² And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?

²³ But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

²⁴ And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him;

²⁵ and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah's sake.

²⁶ Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

²⁷ And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yea, I have taken the city of waters.

²⁸ Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

²⁹ And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

³⁰ And he took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and `in it were' precious stones; and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.

³¹ And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

---

¹ And Jehovah sendeth Nathan unto David, and he cometh unto him, and saith to him: `Two men have been in one city; One rich and one poor;

² The rich hath flocks and herds very many;

³ And the poor one hath nothing, Except one little ewe-lamb, Which he hath bought, and keepeth alive, And it groweth up with him, And with his sons together; Of his morsel it eateth, And from his cup it drinketh, And in his bosom it lieth, And it is to him as a daughter;

⁴ And there cometh a traveller to the rich man, And he spareth to take Of his own flock, and of his own herd, To prepare for the traveller Who hath come to him, And he taketh the ewe-lamb of the poor man, And prepareth it for the man Who hath come unto him.'

⁵ And the anger of David burneth against the man exceedingly, and he saith unto Nathan, `Jehovah liveth, surely a son of death `is' the man who is doing this,

⁶ and the ewe-lamb he doth repay fourfold, because that he hath done this thing, and because that he had no pity.'

⁷ And Nathan saith unto David, `Thou `art' the man! Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, I anointed thee for king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

⁸ and I give to thee the house of thy lord, and the wives of thy lord, into thy bosom, and I give to thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if little, then I add to thee such and such `things'.

⁹ `Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do the evil thing in His eyes? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten by the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to thee for a wife, and him thou hast slain by the sword of the Bene-Ammon.

¹⁰ `And now, the sword doth not turn aside from thy house unto the age, because thou hast despised Me, and dost take the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be to thee for a wife;

¹¹ thus said Jehovah, Lo, I am raising up against thee evil, out of thy house, and have taken thy wives before thine eyes, and given to thy neighbour, and he hath lain with thy wives before the eyes of this sun;

¹² for thou hast done `it' in secret, and I do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'

¹³ And David saith unto Nathan, `I have sinned against Jehovah.' And Nathan saith unto David, `Also -- Jehovah hath caused thy sin to pass away; thou dost not die;

¹⁴ only, because thou hast caused the enemies of Jehovah greatly to despise by this thing, also the son who is born to thee doth surely die.'

¹⁵ And Nathan goeth unto his house, and Jehovah smiteth the lad, whom the wife of Uriah hath born to David, and it is incurable;

¹⁶ and David seeketh God for the youth, and David keepeth a fast, and hath gone in and lodged, and lain on the earth.

¹⁷ And the elders of his house rise against him, to raise him up from the earth, and he hath not been willing, nor hath he eaten with them bread;

¹⁸ and it cometh to pass on the seventh day, that the lad dieth, and the servants of David fear to declare to him that the lad is dead, for they said, `Lo, in the lad being alive we spake unto him, and he did not hearken to our voice; and how do we say unto him, The lad is dead? -- then he hath done evil.'

¹⁹ And David seeth that his servants are whispering, and David understandeth that the lad is dead, and David saith unto his servants, `Is the lad dead?' and they say, `Dead.'

²⁰ And David riseth from the earth, and doth bathe and anoint `himself', and changeth his raiment, and cometh in to the house of Jehovah, and boweth himself, and cometh unto his house, and asketh and they place for him bread, and he eateth.

²¹ And his servants say unto him, `What `is' this thing thou hast done? because of the living lad thou hast fasted and dost weep, and when the lad is dead thou hast risen and dost eat bread.'

²² And he saith, `While the lad is alive I have fasted, and weep, for I said, Who knoweth? -- Jehovah doth pity me, and the lad hath lived;

²³ and now, he hath died, why `is' this -- I fast? am I able to bring him back again? I am going unto him, and he doth not turn back unto me.'

²⁴ And David comforteth Bath-Sheba his wife, and goeth in unto her, and lieth with her, and she beareth a son, and he calleth his name Solomon; and Jehovah hath loved him,

²⁵ and sendeth by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and calleth his name Jedidiah, because of Jehovah.

²⁶ And Joab fighteth against Rabbah of the Bene-Ammon, and captureth the royal city,

²⁷ and Joab sendeth messengers unto David, and saith, `I have fought against Rabbah -- also I have captured the city of waters;

²⁸ and now, gather the rest of the people, and encamp against the city, and capture it, lest I capture the city, and my name hath been called upon it.'

²⁹ And David gathereth all the people, and goeth to Rabbah, and fighteth against it, and captureth it;

³⁰ and he taketh the crown of their king from off his head, and its weight `is' a talent of gold, and precious stones, and it is on the head of David; and the spoil of the city he hath brought out, very much;

³¹ and the people who `are' in it he hath brought out, and setteth to the saw, and to cutting instruments of iron, and to axes of iron, and hath caused them to pass over into the brick-kiln; and so he doth to all the cities of the Bene-Ammon; and David turneth back, and all the people, to Jerusalem.

---

¹ And Jehovah sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich had very many flocks and herds;

³ but the poor man had nothing at all, but one little ewe lamb which he had bought, and was nourishing; and it grew up with him, and together with his children: it ate of his morsel, and drank of his own cup, and slept in his bosom, and was to him as a daughter.

⁴ And there came a traveller to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that had come to him; and he took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him.

⁵ Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this thing is worthy of death;

⁶ and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

⁷ And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man! Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

⁸ and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that] had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah to do evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Urijah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Urijah the Hittite to be thy wife.

¹¹ Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

¹² For thou didst [it] secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.

¹³ And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said to David, Jehovah has also put away thy sin: thou shalt not die.

¹⁴ Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, even the child that is born to thee shall certainly die.

¹⁵ And Nathan departed to his house. And Jehovah smote the child that Urijah's wife bore to David, and it became very sick.

¹⁶ And David besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.

¹⁷ And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he ate no bread with them.

¹⁸ And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not hearken to our voice; and how shall we say to him, The child is dead? he may do some harm.

¹⁹ But David saw that his servants whispered, and David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

²⁰ Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and entered into the house of Jehovah and worshipped; then he came to his own house and required them to set bread before him, and he ate.

²¹ And his servants said to him, What thing is this which thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child alive; but as soon as the child is dead, thou dost rise and eat bread.

²² And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, Who knows? [perhaps] Jehovah will be gracious to me, that the child may live.

²³ But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

²⁴ And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon; and Jehovah loved him.

²⁵ And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah's sake.

²⁶ And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

²⁷ And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

²⁸ And now gather the rest of the people, and encamp against the city and take it: lest I take the city and it be called by my name.

²⁹ And David gathered all the people, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it.

³⁰ And he took the crown of their king from off his head, the weight of which was a talent of gold with [the] precious stones; and it was [set] on David's head; and he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

³¹ And he brought out the people that were in it, and put them under the saw, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkilns. And so did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

---

¹ Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

³ but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.

⁴ A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him."

⁵ David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die!

⁶ He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!"

⁷ Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

⁸ I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things.

⁹ Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'

¹¹ This is what Yahweh says: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

¹² For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'"

¹³ David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.

¹⁴ However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh's enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."

¹⁵ Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.

¹⁶ David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.

¹⁷ The elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

¹⁸ It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!

¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is dead.

²⁰ Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the house of Yahweh, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.

²¹ Then said his servants to him, What thing is this that you have done? you did fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you did rise and eat bread.

²² He said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?

²³ But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.

²⁴ David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him;

²⁵ and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake.

²⁶ Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

²⁷ Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yes, I have taken the city of waters.

²⁸ Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

²⁹ David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

³⁰ He took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight of it was a talent of gold, and [in it were] precious stones; and it was set on David's head. He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.

³¹ He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln: and thus did he to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

---

¹ And the Lord sent Nathan to David. And Nathan came to him and said, There were two men in the same town: one a man of great wealth, and the other a poor man.

² The man of wealth had great numbers of flocks and herds;

³ But the poor man had only one little she-lamb, which he had got and taken care of: from its birth it had been with him like one of his children; his meat was its food, and from his cup it took its drink, resting in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him.

⁴ Now a traveller came to the house of the man of wealth, but he would not take anything from his flock or his herd to make a meal for the traveller who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and made it ready for the man who had come.

⁵ And David was full of wrath against that man; and he said to Nathan, By the living Lord, death is the right punishment for the man who has done this:

⁶ And he will have to give back four times the value of the lamb, because he has done this and because he had no pity.

⁷ And Nathan said to David, You are that man. The Lord God of Israel says, I made you king over Israel, putting holy oil on you, and I kept you safe from the hands of Saul;

⁸ I gave you your master's daughter and your master's wives for yourself, and I gave you the daughters of Israel and Judah; and if that had not been enough, I would have given you such and such things.

⁹ Why then have you had no respect for the word of the Lord, doing what is evil in his eyes? You have put Uriah the Hittite to death with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife; you have put him to death with the sword of the children of Ammon.

¹⁰ So now the sword will never be turned away from your family; because you have had no respect for me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.

¹¹ The Lord says, From those of your family I will send evil against you, and before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to your neighbour, and he will take your wives to his bed by the light of this sun.

¹² You did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel and in the light of the sun.

¹³ And David said to Nathan, Great is my sin against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord has put away your sin; death will not come on you.

¹⁴ But still, because you have had no respect for the Lord, death will certainly overtake the child who has newly come to birth.

¹⁵ Then Nathan went back to his house. And the hand of the Lord was on David's son, the child of Uriah's wife, and it became very ill.

¹⁶ So David made prayer to God for the child; and he took no food day after day, and went in and, stretching himself out on the earth, was there all night.

¹⁷ And the chief men of his house got up and went to his side to make him get up from the earth, but he would not; and he would not take food with them.

¹⁸ And then on the seventh day the child's death took place. And David's servants were in fear of giving him the news of the child's death: for they said, Truly, while the child was still living he gave no attention when we said anything to him: what will he do to himself if we give him word that the child is dead?

¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants were talking together quietly, he was certain that the child was dead: and he said to his servants, Is the child dead? and they said, He is.

²⁰ Then David got up from the earth, and after washing and rubbing himself with oil and changing his clothing, he went into the house of the Lord and gave worship: then he went back to his house, and at his order they put food before him and he had a meal.

²¹ Then his servants said to him, Why have you been acting in this way? you were weeping and going without food while the child was still living; but when the child was dead, you got up and had a meal.

²² And he said, While the child was still living I went without food and gave myself up to weeping: for I said, Who is able to say that the Lord will not have mercy on me and give the child life?

²³ But now that the child is dead there is no reason for me to go without food; am I able to make him come back to life? I will go to him, but he will never come back to me.

²⁴ And David gave comfort to his wife Bath-sheba, and he went in to her and had connection with her: and she had a son to whom she gave the name Solomon. And he was dear to the Lord.

²⁵ And he sent word by Nathan the prophet, who gave him the name Jedidiah, by the word of the Lord.

²⁶ Now Joab was fighting against Rabbah, in the land of the children of Ammon, and he took the water-town.

²⁷ And Joab sent men to David, saying, I have made war against Rabbah and have taken the water-town.

²⁸ So now, get the rest of the people together, and put them in position against the town and take it, for if I take it, it will be named after my name.

²⁹ Then David got all the people together and went to Rabbah and made war on it and took it.

³⁰ And he took the crown of Milcom from his head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it were stones of great price; and it was put on David's head. And he took a great store of goods from the town.

³¹ And he took the people out of the town and put them to work with wood-cutting instruments, and iron grain-crushers, and iron axes, and at brick-making: this he did to all the towns of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people went back to Jerusalem.