the LORD made an atonement for the land, and the plague ceased from off the people of Israel.
Text of the unrevised Luther Bible 1545:
DeepL English Translation
[Processed by BackToLuther. German text published here.]
The First Book of Kings (1 Kings) ^
Chapter 1
Solomon anointed and inaugurated as king.

And because king David was old and well stricken in years, though they covered him with garments, he could not wax warm.

And his servants said unto him, Let them find my lord the king a damsel, a virgin, to stand before the king, and to nurse him, and to sleep in his arms, and to warm my lord the king.

And they sought a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel: and they found Abi sag of Sunem, and brought her unto the king.

And she was a very fair damsel; and she nursed the king, and ministered unto him. But the king knew her not:

And Adonijah the son of Hagith rose up, and said: I will be king. And he made him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to go before him.

And his father would not grieve him in his days, saying, Why doest thou thus? And he also was a very goodly man, and he begat him next unto Absalom.

And he had counsel with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest, which helped Adonijah.

But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoioda, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men of David, were not with Adonijah.

And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatted cattle by the stone of Soheleth, which is by the well of Rogel; and he invited all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants.

But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he invited not.

And Nathan said unto Bathsheba Solomon’s mother, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the
son of Hagith is king, and our lord David knoweth not?

Come now therefore, and I will give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thy soul, and the soul of Solomon thy son.

Go, and enter in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst thou not, my lord the king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying: Solomon thy son shall be king after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? Why then hath Adonijah become king?

Behold, because thou art yet here, and speakest with the king, I will come in after thee, and will fully speak thy word.

And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber. And the king was very old, and Abishag of Sunem ministered unto the king.

And Bathsheba bowed herself, and worshipped the king. And the king said, What is the matter with thee?

And she said unto him, My lord, thou hast sworn unto thy handmaid by the LORD thy God, saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and sit upon my throne.

But now, behold, Adonia is become king; and, my lord the king, thou knowest nothing about it.

He hath offered oxen and fatlings, and many sheep: and he hath charged all the king’s sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but he hath not charged Solomon thy servant.

But thou art my lord the king: the eyes of all Israel look unto thee, that thou mayest shew them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.

But when my lord the king shall have fallen asleep with his fathers, then shall I and Solomon my son be sinners.

And while she yet spake unto the king, Nathan the prophet came.

And they told the king: Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he worshipped the king on his face to the earth.

And said, My lord king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall be king after me, and shall sit upon my throne?

For he went down this day, and offered oxen and fatlings, and many sheep, and called all the king’s sons, and the captains, and Abiathar the priest. And, behold, they eat and drink before him, saying, Happy is the king Adonijah!

But me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not charged.

Is this commanded of my lord the king, and hast not thy servants known who shall sit in the throne of my lord the king after him?

And king David answered and said, Call Bathsheba unto me. And she came in before the king. And she stood before the king,

And the king sware, saying, As the LORD liveth, who hath delivered my soul out of all distress,

I will do this day as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Solomon thy son shall reign after me; and he shall sit upon my throne for me.

And Bathsheba bowed her face to the ground, and worshipped the king, and said, Blessed be my lord King David for ever.

And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came in before the king,

And the king said unto them: Take with you your lord’s servants, and set Solomon my son upon my mouth, and bring him down to Gihon.

And Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, anoint him there king over Israel. And blow ye with the trumpets, and say, Blessed be Solomon the king.

And go up after him, and when he is come, he shall sit upon my throne, and be king over me: and I will command him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.

And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen, so saith the LORD God of my lord the king.

As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, so be he also with Solomon, that his throne may be greater than the throne of my lord king David.

And Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoioda, and Krethi and Plethi, went down, and set Solomon in the jaws of king David, and brought him to Gihon.

And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew with the trumpet, and all the people said, Happy is king Solomon!

And all the people went up after him: and the people blew with whistles, and were very glad; and the earth rang with their shouting.

And Adonijah heard it, and all that he had invited that were with him; and they had already eaten. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpets, he said, What is the cry and tumult of the city?

And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, Come in, for thou art an upright man, and bringest good tidings.

And Jonathan answered and said unto Adonijah, Yea, our lord king David hath made Solomon king;

And he sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Krethi and Plethi; and they set him in the king’s mouth.

And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king in Gihon: and they went up from thence with joy, and the city rejoiced. This is the cry that ye have heard.

For this Solomon sitteth in the royal seat.

And the king’s servants went in to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make Solomon’s name better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king worshipped in the camp.

And the king said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which this day hath made one to sit upon my throne, that mine eyes have seen.

And all that were bidden at Adonijah were afraid, and arose, and went every man his way.

But Adonijah was afraid of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and took hold of the horns of the altar.

And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon; and, behold, he taketh hold of the horns of the altar, saying, King Solomon sweareth unto me this day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

And Solomon said, If he be upright, not a hair of his head shall fall to the earth: but if evil be found in him, he shall die.

And king Solomon sent, and brought him down from off the altar. And when he was come, he worshipped king Solomon. And Solomon said unto him, Go into thine house.
(1 Kings)
Chapter 2
David’s last will and parting. Solomon’s succession and earnest government.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that David should die, that he commanded Solomon his son, saying:

I go the way of all the earth: be of good cheer, and be a man.

And wait upon the guard of the LORD thy God, that thou walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses; that thou mayest be wise in all that thou doest, and in all that thou turnest, 4. That the LORD may perform his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children keep their ways, and walk before me faithfully with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall never fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

Also thou knowest well what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, what he did unto the two captains of the host of Israel, Abner the son of Ner, and Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the