Nathan Rebukes David
(Psalm 51:1–19)

1  וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח (And sent) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) נָתָ֖ן (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וַיָּבֹ֣א (and he came) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (and said) לוֹ֙ (to him), שְׁנֵ֣י (Two) אֲנָשִׁ֗ים (men) הָיוּ֙ (there were) בְּעִ֣יר (in city) אֶחָ֔ת (one)— אֶחָ֥ד (one) עָשִׁ֖יר (rich) וְאֶחָ֥ד (and one) רָֽאשׁ׃ (poor). 2  לְעָשִׁ֗יר (The rich one) הָיָ֛ה (had) צֹ֥אן (flocks) וּבָקָ֖ר (and herds) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (many) מְאֹֽד׃ (exceedingly). 3  וְלָרָ֣שׁ (And the poor one) אֵֽין־ (had not) כֹּ֗ל (anything), כִּי֩ (but) אִם־ (if) כִּבְשָׂ֨ה (ewe lamb) אַחַ֤ת (one) קְטַנָּה֙ (little), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (which) קָנָ֔ה (he had bought) וַיְחַיֶּ֕הָ (and kept alive). וַתִּגְדַּ֥ל (And it grew up) עִמּ֛וֹ (with him) וְעִם־ (and with) בָּנָ֖יו (his children) יַחְדָּ֑ו (together). מִפִּתּ֨וֹ (Of his own food) תֹאכַ֜ל (it ate), וּמִכֹּס֤וֹ (and from his own cup) תִשְׁתֶּה֙ (it drank), וּבְחֵיק֣וֹ (and in his bosom) תִשְׁכָּ֔ב (it lay), וַתְּהִי־ (and it was) ל֖וֹ (to him) כְּבַֽת׃ (like a daughter).

4  וַיָּ֣בֹא (And came) הֵלֶךְ֮ (a traveler) לְאִ֣ישׁ (to man) הֶֽעָשִׁיר֒ (the rich), וַיַּחְמֹ֗ל (and who refused) לָקַ֤חַת (to take) מִצֹּאנוֹ֙ (from his own flock) וּמִבְּקָר֔וֹ (and from his own herd) לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת (to prepare) לָאֹרֵ֖חַ (for the wayfaring man) הַבָּא־ (who had come) ל֑וֹ (to him). וַיִּקַּ֗ח (And he took) אֶת־ (-) כִּבְשַׂת֙ (the ewe lamb) הָאִ֣ישׁ (of the man) הָרָ֔אשׁ (poor) וַֽיַּעֲשֶׂ֔הָ (and prepared it) לָאִ֖ישׁ (for the man) הַבָּ֥א (who had come) אֵלָֽיו׃ (to him).

5  וַיִּֽחַר־ (And was kindled) אַ֥ף (the anger) דָּוִ֛ד (of David) בָּאִ֖ישׁ (against the man) מְאֹ֑ד (greatly), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said) אֶל־ (to) נָתָ֔ן (Nathan), חַי־ (As lives) יְהוָ֕ה (YHWH), כִּ֣י (surely) בֶן־ (-) מָ֔וֶת (shall surely die) הָאִ֖ישׁ (the man) הָעֹשֶׂ֥ה (who has done) זֹֽאת׃ (this). 6  וְאֶת־ (And) הַכִּבְשָׂ֖ה (for the lamb) יְשַׁלֵּ֣ם (he shall restore) אַרְבַּעְתָּ֑יִם (fourfold), עֵ֗קֶב (on account) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) עָשָׂה֙ (he did) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וְעַ֖ל (and) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (because) לֹֽא־ (not) חָמָֽל׃ (he had pity).

7  וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (And said) נָתָ֛ן (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֖ד (David), אַתָּ֣ה (You are) הָאִ֑ישׁ (the man). כֹּה־ (Thus) אָמַ֨ר (says) יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֵ֣י (God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), אָנֹכִ֞י (I) מְשַׁחְתִּ֤יךָֽ (anointed you) לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙ (king) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (Israel), וְאָנֹכִ֥י (and I) הִצַּלְתִּ֖יךָ (snatched you up) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 8  וָאֶתְּנָ֨ה (And I gave) לְךָ֜ (to you) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֣ית (the house) אֲדֹנֶ֗יךָ (of your master) וְאֶת־ (and) נְשֵׁ֤י (the wives) אֲדֹנֶ֙יךָ֙ (of your master) בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ (into your bosom), וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה (and I gave) לְךָ֔ (to you) אֶת־ (-) בֵּ֥ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) וִֽיהוּדָ֑ה (and Judah). וְאִ֨ם־ (And if that was) מְעָ֔ט (too little), וְאֹסִ֥פָה (and I would have given) לְּךָ֖ (to you) כָּהֵ֥נָּה (like them) וְכָהֵֽנָּה׃ (and like them).

9  מַדּ֜וּעַ (Why) בָּזִ֣יתָ׀ (have you despised) אֶת־ (-) דְּבַ֣ר (the commandment) יְהוָ֗ה (of YHWH) לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (to do) הָרַע֮ (evil) בְּעֵינוֹ (in His sight)? אֵ֣ת (-) אוּרִיָּ֤ה (Uriah) הַֽחִתִּי֙ (the Hittite) הִכִּ֣יתָ (you have struck) בַחֶ֔רֶב (with the sword), וְאֶ֨ת־ (and) אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (his wife) לָקַ֥חְתָּ (you have taken to be) לְּךָ֖ (your) לְאִשָּׁ֑ה (wife), וְאֹת֣וֹ (and him) הָרַ֔גְתָּ (have killed) בְּחֶ֖רֶב (with the sword) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) עַמּֽוֹן׃ (of Ammon). 10  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) לֹא־ (not) תָס֥וּר (shall depart) חֶ֛רֶב (the sword) מִבֵּיתְךָ֖ (from your house) עַד־ (even to) עוֹלָ֑ם (forever), עֵ֚קֶב (on account) כִּ֣י (that) בְזִתָ֔נִי (you have despised Me) וַתִּקַּ֗ח (and have taken) אֶת־ (-) אֵ֙שֶׁת֙ (the wife) אוּרִיָּ֣ה (of Uriah) הַחִתִּ֔י (the Hittite) לִהְי֥וֹת (to be) לְךָ֖ (your) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ס (wife).

11  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH): הִנְנִי֩ (Behold), מֵקִ֨ים (I will raise up) עָלֶ֤יךָ (against you) רָעָה֙ (adversity) מִבֵּיתֶ֔ךָ (from your own house), וְלָקַחְתִּ֤י (and I will take) אֶת־ (-) נָשֶׁ֙יךָ֙ (your wives) לְעֵינֶ֔יךָ (before your eyes) וְנָתַתִּ֖י (and give them) לְרֵעֶ֑יךָ (to your neighbor), וְשָׁכַב֙ (and he shall lie) עִם־ (with) נָשֶׁ֔יךָ (your wives) לְעֵינֵ֖י (in the eyes) הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ (of sun) הַזֹּֽאת׃ (this). 12  כִּ֥י (For) אַתָּ֖ה (you) עָשִׂ֣יתָ (did it) בַסָּ֑תֶר (secretly), וַאֲנִ֗י (and I) אֶעֱשֶׂה֙ (will do) אֶת־ (-) הַדָּבָ֣ר (thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this) נֶ֥גֶד (before) כָּל־ (all) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (Israel), וְנֶ֥גֶד (and before) הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ס (the sun).

David’s Loss and Repentance

13  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) דָּוִד֙ (David) אֶל־ (to) נָתָ֔ן (Nathan), חָטָ֖אתִי (I have sinned) לַֽיהוָ֑הס (against YHWH).

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) נָתָ֜ן (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), גַּם־ (Even) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) הֶעֱבִ֥יר (has put away) חַטָּאתְךָ֖ (your sin); לֹ֥א (not) תָמֽוּת׃ (you shall die). 14  אֶ֗פֶס (Nevertheless), כִּֽי־ (because) נִאֵ֤ץ (despising) נִאַ֙צְתָּ֙ (you have caused to despise) אֶת־ (-) אֹיְבֵ֣י (the enemies) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) בַּדָּבָ֖ר (by deed) הַזֶּ֑ה (this), גַּ֗ם (also) הַבֵּ֛ן (the son) הַיִּלּ֥וֹד (born) לְךָ֖ (to you) מ֥וֹת (dying) יָמֽוּת׃ (will die).

15  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ (And departed) נָתָ֖ן (Nathan) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֑וֹ (his house). וַיִּגֹּ֣ף (And struck) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) אֶת־ (-) הַיֶּ֜לֶד (the child) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יָלְדָ֧ה (had borne) אֵֽשֶׁת־ (the wife) אוּרִיָּ֛ה (of Uriah) לְדָוִ֖ד (to David), וַיֵּאָנַֽשׁ׃ (and he became ill). 16  וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁ (And pleaded) דָּוִ֛ד (David) אֶת־ (-) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (with God) בְּעַ֣ד (for) הַנָּ֑עַר (the child), וַיָּ֤צָם (and fasted) דָּוִד֙ (David) צ֔וֹם (fasting), וּבָ֥א (and he came in) וְלָ֖ן (and he spent the night) וְשָׁכַ֥ב (and he laid down) אָֽרְצָה׃ (on the ground). 17  וַיָּקֻ֜מוּ (And arose) זִקְנֵ֤י (the elders) בֵיתוֹ֙ (of his house) עָלָ֔יו (beside him) לַהֲקִימ֖וֹ (to raise him up) מִן־ (from) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the ground), וְלֹ֣א (not) אָבָ֔ה (he would), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) בָרָ֥א (did he eat) אִתָּ֖ם (with them) לָֽחֶם׃ (food).

18  וַיְהִ֛י (And it came to pass) בַּיּ֥וֹם (on the day) הַשְּׁבִיעִ֖י (seventh) וַיָּ֣מָת (that died) הַיָּ֑לֶד (the child). וַיִּֽרְאוּ֩ (And were afraid) עַבְדֵ֨י (the servants) דָוִ֜ד (of David) לְהַגִּ֥יד (to tell) ל֣וֹ׀ (him) כִּי־ (that) מֵ֣ת (was dead) הַיֶּ֗לֶד (the child), כִּ֤י (for) אָֽמְרוּ֙ (they said), הִנֵּה֩ (Indeed), בִהְי֨וֹת (while was) הַיֶּ֜לֶד (the child) חַ֗י (alive), דִּבַּ֤רְנוּ (we spoke) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁמַ֣ע (he did listen) בְּקוֹלֵ֔נוּ (to our voice). וְאֵ֨יךְ (And how) נֹאמַ֥ר (can we tell) אֵלָ֛יו (to him) מֵ֥ת (is dead) הַיֶּ֖לֶד (the child)? וְעָשָׂ֥ה (And He may do) רָעָֽה׃ (some harm).

19  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) דָּוִ֗ד (David) כִּ֤י (that) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants) מִֽתְלַחֲשִׁ֔ים (were whispering), וַיָּ֥בֶן (and perceived) דָּוִ֖ד (David) כִּ֣י (that) מֵ֣ת (was dead) הַיָּ֑לֶד (the child). וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֧ד (David) אֶל־ (to) עֲבָדָ֛יו (his servants), הֲמֵ֥ת (Is dead) הַיֶּ֖לֶד (the child)?

וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ (And they said), מֵֽת׃ (He is dead).

20  וַיָּקָם֩ (And arose) דָּוִ֨ד (David) מֵהָאָ֜רֶץ (from the ground) וַיִּרְחַ֣ץ (and washed), וַיָּ֗סֶךְ (and anointed himself) וַיְחַלֵּף֙ (and changed) שִׂמְלָתוֹ (his clothes), וַיָּבֹ֥א (and he went into) בֵית־ (the house) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) וַיִּשְׁתָּ֑חוּ (and worshiped). וַיָּבֹא֙ (And he went) אֶל־ (to) בֵּית֔וֹ (his own house), וַיִּשְׁאַ֕ל (and he requested), וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (and they set) ל֛וֹ (before him) לֶ֖חֶם (food) וַיֹּאכַֽל׃ (and he ate).

21  וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (And said) עֲבָדָיו֙ (his servants) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), מָֽה־ (What is) הַדָּבָ֥ר (thing) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשִׂ֑יתָה (you have done)? בַּעֲב֞וּר (While) הַיֶּ֤לֶד (the child) חַי֙ (was alive), צַ֣מְתָּ (you fasted) וַתֵּ֔בְךְּ (and wept); וְכַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (and) מֵ֣ת (died) הַיֶּ֔לֶד (the child), קַ֖מְתָּ (you arose) וַתֹּ֥אכַל (and ate) לָֽחֶם׃ (food).

22  וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And he said), בְּעוֹד֙ (While was) הַיֶּ֣לֶד (the child) חַ֔י (alive), צַ֖מְתִּי (I fasted) וָֽאֶבְכֶּ֑ה (and wept). כִּ֤י (For) אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ (I said), מִ֣י (Who) יוֹדֵ֔עַ (knows)? יְחָנַּנִי (And may be gracious) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH) וְחַ֥י (that may live) הַיָּֽלֶד׃ (the child)? 23  וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (And) מֵ֗ת (he is dead). לָ֤מָּה (Why) זֶּה֙ (is this that) אֲנִ֣י (I) צָ֔ם (should fast)? הַאוּכַ֥ל (Can I) לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ (bring him back) ע֑וֹד (again)? אֲנִי֙ (I) הֹלֵ֣ךְ (shall go) אֵלָ֔יו (to him), וְה֖וּא (and he) לֹֽא־ (not) יָשׁ֥וּב (shall return) אֵלָֽי׃ (to me).

Solomon’s Birth

24  וַיְנַחֵ֣ם (And comforted) דָּוִ֗ד (David) אֵ֚ת (-) בַּת־ (Bath-) שֶׁ֣בַע (sheba) אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (his wife), וַיָּבֹ֥א (and went in) אֵלֶ֖יהָ (to her) וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב (and lay) עִמָּ֑הּ (with her). וַתֵּ֣לֶד (And she bore) בֵּ֗ן (a son), וַיִּקְרָא (and she called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמוֹ֙ (his name) שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה (Solomon).

וַיהוָ֖ה (And YHWH) אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ (loved him). 25  וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח (And He sent) בְּיַד֙ (by the hand) נָתָ֣ן (of Nathan) הַנָּבִ֔יא (the prophet). וַיִּקְרָ֥א (And He called) אֶת־ (-) שְׁמ֖וֹ (his name) יְדִ֣ידְיָ֑הּ (Jedidiah), בַּעֲב֖וּר (because) יְהוָֽה׃פ (of YHWH).

The Capture of Rabbah
(1 Chronicles 20:1–3)

26  וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם (And fought) יוֹאָ֔ב (Joab) בְּרַבַּ֖ת (against Rabbah) בְּנֵ֣י (of the sons) עַמּ֑וֹן (of Ammon), וַיִּלְכֹּ֖ד (and he captured) אֶת־ (-) עִ֥יר (city) הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃ (the royal). 27  וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח (And sent) יוֹאָ֛ב (Joab) מַלְאָכִ֖ים (messengers) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (and he said), נִלְחַ֣מְתִּי (I have fought) בְרַבָּ֔ה (against Rabbah), גַּם־ (Also) לָכַ֖דְתִּי (have captured) אֶת־ (I) עִ֥יר (of the city) הַמָּֽיִם׃ (the waters). 28  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) אֱסֹף֙ (gather together) אֶת־ (-) יֶ֣תֶר (the rest) הָעָ֔ם (of the people) וַחֲנֵ֥ה (and encamp) עַל־ (against) הָעִ֖יר (the city) וְלָכְדָ֑הּ (and take it), פֶּן־ (lest) אֶלְכֹּ֤ד (take) אֲנִי֙ (I) אֶת־ (-) הָעִ֔יר (the city), וְנִקְרָ֥א (and it be called) שְׁמִ֖י (my name) עָלֶֽיהָ׃ (after it).

29  וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (And gathered together) דָּוִ֛ד (David) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ (and went) רַבָּ֑תָה (to Rabbah), וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם (and fought) בָּ֖הּ (against it) וַֽיִּלְכְּדָֽהּ׃ (and took it). 30  וַיִּקַּ֣ח (And he took) אֶת־ (-) עֲטֶֽרֶת־ (the crown) מַלְכָּם֩ (of their king) מֵעַ֨ל (from) רֹאשׁ֜וֹ (his head), וּמִשְׁקָלָ֨הּ (and its weight was) כִּכַּ֤ר (a talent) זָהָב֙ (of gold) וְאֶ֣בֶן (and with stones) יְקָרָ֔ה (precious); וַתְּהִ֖י (and it was set) עַל־ (on) רֹ֣אשׁ (the head) דָּוִ֑ד (of David), וּשְׁלַ֥ל (and the plunder) הָעִ֛יר (of the city) הוֹצִ֖יא (he brought out) הַרְבֵּ֥ה (in abundance) מְאֹֽד׃ (great).

31  וְאֶת־ (And) הָעָ֨ם (the people) אֲשֶׁר־ (who were) בָּ֜הּ (in it) הוֹצִ֗יא (he brought out) וַיָּ֣שֶׂם (and he set them) בַּ֠מְּגֵרָה (to the saw) וּבַחֲרִצֵ֨י (and picks) הַבַּרְזֶ֜ל (of iron), וּֽבְמַגְזְרֹ֣ת (and to axes) הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל (of iron), וְהֶעֱבִ֤יר (and he made pass through) אוֹתָם֙ (them) בַּמַּלְכֶּן (to the brick kilns). וְכֵ֣ן (And so) יַעֲשֶׂ֔ה (he did) לְכֹ֖ל (to all) עָרֵ֣י (the cities) בְנֵֽי־ (of the sons) עַמּ֑וֹן (of Ammon). וַיָּ֧שָׁב (And returned) דָּוִ֛ד (David) וְכָל־ (and all) הָעָ֖ם (the people) יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פ (to Jerusalem).