Thursday in Season after Pentecost

1Verse 1. Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 2Verse 2. So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.” 3Verse 3. Then they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. 4Verse 4. The girl was unsurpassed in beauty; she cared for the king and served him, but he had no relations with her. 5Verse 5. At that time Adonijah, David’s son by Haggith, began to exalt himself, saying, “I will be king!” And he acquired chariots and horsemen and fifty men to run ahead of him. 6Verse 6. (His father had never once reprimanded him by saying, “Why do you act this way?” Adonijah was also very handsome, born next after Absalom.) 7Verse 7. So Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, who supported him. 8Verse 8. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah. 9Verse 9. And Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fattened calves near the stone of Zoheleth, which is next to En-rogel. He invited all his royal brothers and all the men of Judah who were servants of the king. 10Verse 10. But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon. 11Verse 11. Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it? 12Verse 12. Now please, come and let me advise you. Save your own life and the life of your son Solomon. 13Verse 13. Go at once to King David and say, ‘My lord the king, did you not swear to your maidservant, “Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ 14Verse 14. Then, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.” 15Verse 15. So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. Since the king was very old, Abishag the Shunammite was serving him. 16Verse 16. And Bathsheba bowed down in homage to the king, who asked, “What is your desire?” 17Verse 17. “My lord,” she replied, “you yourself swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God: ‘Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.’ 18Verse 18. But now, behold, Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know it. 19Verse 19. And he has sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the other sons of the king, as well as Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army. But he has not invited your servant Solomon. 20Verse 20. And as for you, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon you to tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21Verse 21. Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.” 22Verse 22. And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23Verse 23. So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king. 24Verse 24. “My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’? 25Verse 25. For today he has gone down and sacrificed an abundance of oxen, fattened calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ 26Verse 26. But me your servant he has not invited, nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27Verse 27. Has my lord the king let this happen without informing your servant who should sit on the throne after my lord the king?” 28Verse 28. Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba for me.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. 29Verse 29. And the king swore an oath, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, 30Verse 30. I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

1Verse 1. Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: 2Verse 2. “Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated? 3Verse 3. Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke? 4Verse 4. You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’ 5Verse 5. But if only God would speak and open His lips against you, 6Verse 6. and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves. 7Verse 7. Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? 8Verse 8. They are higher than the heavens— what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol— what can you know? 9Verse 9. Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. 10Verse 10. If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him? 11Verse 11. Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note? 12Verse 12. But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man! 13Verse 13. As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him, 14Verse 14. if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents, 15Verse 15. then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid. 16Verse 16. For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by. 17Verse 17. Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. 18Verse 18. You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety. 19Verse 19. You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor. 20Verse 20. But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”