1Then the LORDsentNathanto David.And he cameto him and said,"There were twomenin onecity,the onerichand the otherpoor.
2"The richmanhada greatmanyflocksand herds.
3"But the poorman had nothingexceptonelittleewelambWhichhe boughtand nourished;And it grewup togetherwith him and his children.It would eatof his breadand drinkof his cupand liein his bosom,And was like a daughterto him.
4"Now a travelercameto the richman,And he was unwillingto takefrom his own flockor his own herd,To preparefor the wayfarerwho had cometo him; Rather he tookthe poorman'sewelamband preparedit for the manwho had cometo him."
5Then David'sangerburnedgreatlyagainst the man,and he saidto Nathan,"As the LORDlives,surelythe manwho has donethisdeservesto die.6"He must makerestitutionfor the lambfourfold,becausehe didthisthingand hadnocompassion."
7Nathanthen saidto David,"You are the man!Thussaysthe LORDGodof Israel,It is I who anointedyou kingoverIsraeland it is I who deliveredyou from the handof Saul.8I also gaveyou your master'shouseand your master'swivesinto your care,and I gaveyou the houseof Israeland Judah;and if[that had been] too little,I would have addedto you many more things like these!9Whyhave you despisedthe wordof the LORDby doingevilin His sight?You have struckdownUriahthe Hittitewith the sword,have takenhis wifeto be your wife,and have killedhim with the swordof the sonsof Ammon.10Nowtherefore, the swordshall neverdepartfrom your house,becauseyou have despisedMe and have takenthe wifeof Uriahthe Hittiteto be your wife.'11"Thussaysthe LORD,'Behold,I will raiseup evilagainstyou from your own household;I will even takeyour wivesbefore your eyesand give[them] to your companion,and he will liewith your wivesin broaddaylight.12Indeedyou didit secretly,but I will dothisthingbeforeallIsrael,and underthe sun.'"13Then Davidsaidto Nathan,"I have sinnedagainst the LORD."And Nathansaidto David,"The LORDalsohas takenawayyour sin;you shall not die.14"However,becauseby thisdeedyou have givenoccasion to the enemiesof the LORDto blaspheme,the childalsothat is bornto you shall surelydie."15So Nathanwentto his house.
Then the LORDstruckthe childthat Uriah'swidowboreto David,so that he was [very] sick.16Davidtherefore inquiredof Godfor the child;and Davidfastedand wentand layall nighton the ground.17The eldersof his householdstoodbesidehim in order to raisehim up from the ground,but he was unwillingand would not eatfoodwith them.18Then it happenedon the seventhdaythat the childdied.And the servantsof Davidwere afraidto tellhim that the childwas dead,for they said,"Behold,while the childwas [still] alive,we spoketo him and he did not listento our voice.Howthen can we tellhim that the childis dead,since he might do[himself] harm!"19But when Davidsawthat his servantswere whisperingtogether, Davidperceivedthat the childwas dead;so Davidsaidto his servants,"Is the childdead?"And they said,"He is dead."20So Davidarosefrom the ground,washed,anointed[himself], and changedhis clothes;and he cameinto the houseof the LORDand worshiped.Then he cameto his own house,and when he requested,they setfoodbefore him and he ate.
21Then his servantssaidto him, "Whatis thisthingthat you have done?Whilethe childwas alive,you fastedand wept;but whenthe childdied,you aroseand atefood."22He said,"While the childwas [still] alive,I fastedand wept;for I said,Whoknows,the LORDmay be graciousto me, that the childmay live.'23"But nowhe has died;whyshould I fast?CanI bringhim backagain?I will goto him, but he will not returnto me."
24Then Davidcomfortedhis wifeBathsheba,and wentin to her and laywith her; and she gavebirthto a son,and he namedhim Solomon.Now the LORDlovedhim25and sent[word] throughNathanthe prophet,and he namedhim Jedidiahfor the LORD'Ssake.
26Now Joabfoughtagainst Rabbahof the sonsof Ammonand capturedthe royalcity.27Joabsentmessengersto Davidand said,"I have foughtagainst Rabbah,I have evencapturedthe cityof waters.28"Nowtherefore, gatherthe restof the peopletogether and campagainstthe cityand captureit, orI will capturethe citymyselfand it will be namedafterme."29So Davidgatheredallthe peopleand wentto Rabbah,foughtagainst it and capturedit.30Then he tookthe crownof their kingfrom his head;and its weight[was] a talentof gold,and [in it] [was] a preciousstone;and it was [placed] on David'shead.And he broughtout the spoilof the cityin greatamounts.31He also broughtout the peoplewhowere in it, and set[them] under saws,sharpironinstruments,and ironaxes,and made them passthrough the brickkiln.And thushe didto allthe citiesof the sonsof Ammon.Then Davidand allthe peoplereturned[to] Jerusalem.
