DAVID’S DYING INSTRUCTIONS TO SOLOMON

2 As the time approached for David to die,ai he ordered his son Solomon, 2 “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth.a Be strong and be a man,b 3 and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you doc and wherever you turn, 4 and so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul,d you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’e

5 “You also know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to mef and what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s army, Abner son of Nerg and Amasa son of Jether.h He murdered them in a time of peace to avenge blood shed in war. He spilled that blood on his own waistband and on the sandals of his feet.* 6 Act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head descend to Sheol in peace.

7 “Show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite and let them be among those who eat at your tablei because they supported me when I fled from your brother Absalom.j

8 “Keep an eye on Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim who is with you. He uttered malicious curses against me the day I went to Mahanaim.k But he came down to meet me at the Jordan River, and I swore to him by the Lord, ‘I will never kill you with the sword.’l 9 So don’t let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man. You know how to deal with him to bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.”