[1] And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him,
"There were two men in a certain 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 but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up,
and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his
morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a
daughter to him. [4] Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was
unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer
who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared it for
the man who had come to him." [5] Then David's anger was greatly kindled
against the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has
done this deserves to die; [6] and 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. Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `I anointed
you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; [8] and
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 this were too little,
I would add to you as much more. [9] Why have you despised the word of the
LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uri'ah the Hittite
with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him
with the sword of the Ammonites. [10] Now therefore the sword shall never
depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the
wife of Uri'ah the Hittite to be your wife.' [11] Thus says the LORD,
`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
shall 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 the LORD." And Nathan
said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
[14] Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD,
the child that is born to you shall die." [15] Then Nathan went to his
house.  And the LORD struck the child that Uri'ah's wife bore to David, and
it became sick. [16] David therefore besought God for the child; and David
fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the ground. [17] And the elders
of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground; but he would
not, nor did he eat food with them. [18] On the seventh day 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
did not listen to us; how then can we say to him the child is dead? He may
do himself some harm." [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 clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD, and worshiped;
he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him,
and he ate. [21] Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that
you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but
when the child died, you arose and ate food." [22] He said, "While the
child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, `Who knows whether
the LORD 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] Then David comforted his wife,
Bathshe'ba, and went in to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and
he called his name Solomon. And the LORD loved him, [25] and sent a message
by Nathan the prophet; so he called his name Jedidi'ah, because of the
LORD. [26] Now Jo'ab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and took the
royal city. [27] And Jo'ab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have
fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters. [28] Now,
then, gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city,
and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called by my name." [29] So
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 his
head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious
stone; and it was placed on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of
the city, a very great amount. [31] And he brought forth the people who
were in it, and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes,
and made them toil at the brickkilns; and thus he did to all the cities of
the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.