2 Samuel 12

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

The LORD guided Nathan to David. He approached him and shared a tale of two men living in the same city - one wealthy, the other destitute.

The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

The wealthy man owned countless herds and flocks, his heart filled with pride and satisfaction.

But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

The poor man had only one tiny lamb, his prized possession. He raised it lovingly, like a member of his family. It shared his food, drank from his cup, and snuggled close to him. To him, it was like a cherished daughter.

And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

A traveler arrived at a wealthy man's home. Instead of offering a meal from his abundant livestock, the rich man took the only lamb of a poor man to feed his guest.

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

David was seething with rage towards the man. He declared to Nathan, "As sure as God exists, this man who did this will certainly face death."

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

He will repay four times over for the lamb, as he acted without compassion or remorse.

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Nathan said to David, "You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: I anointed you king over Israel and saved you from Saul's grasp.

And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

I gifted you with your leader's home, his wives became yours, and I handed over the kingdoms of Israel and Judah to you. If that wasn't enough, I would have given you even more.

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Why did you ignore God's command and do wrong in His eyes? You murdered Uriah and stole his wife, using the enemy's sword to kill him.

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Because you despised me by taking Uriah's wife as your own, the sword will never leave your family.

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

The Lord declares, "I will stir up trouble against you from within your own family. I will take your wives while you watch, and give them to another man. He will sleep with your wives in broad daylight."

For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

You did it in secret, but I will do this in broad daylight, for all of Israel to see.

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

With a heavy heart, David confessed to Nathan, "I've wronged God." Nathan, with a reassuring smile, replied, "David, God has forgiven your sin. You will not perish."

Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

But because of your actions, you've given God's enemies a reason to speak ill of Him. So the child born to you will surely die.

And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

Nathan left for his home. Tragically, the child born to Uriah's wife and David fell gravely ill, struck by the hand of the LORD.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

David, with a heavy heart, pleaded to God for his child's life. He fasted, retreated in solitude, and spent the entire night prostrated on the ground.

And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

The senior members of his household gathered and approached him, trying to lift his spirits from the depths of despair. But he refused, he wouldn't even share a meal with them.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that 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 spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

On the seventh day, the child tragically passed away. David's servants were terrified to break the news to him. They thought, "He wouldn't listen to us when the child was alive, how distraught will he be when we tell him the child is no more?"

But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

David noticed his servants whispering and immediately felt a heavy dread. He asked them, "Has my child passed away?" Their solemn nod confirmed his worst fear.

Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

David, filled with determination, rose from the ground. He cleansed himself, dressed in fresh clothes, and prepared his heart. With reverence, he entered God's house to worship. Later, he returned home, where a meal awaited him, and he ate with gratitude.

Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? You mourned and fasted for the child while it was alive, but now that it's gone, you've started eating again."

And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

He spoke, his voice heavy with sorrow, "When my child was still alive, I prayed and cried, hoping against hope. I wondered, would God show me mercy and let my child live?"

But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Now that he's gone, what's the point of my fasting? Can my actions bring him back? I'll join him someday, but he won't come back to me.

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

David, with a tender heart, consoled his wife Bathsheba. They shared an intimate moment, and from their love, a son was born. They named him Solomon, a child who was deeply cherished by the Lord.

And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

Through the voice of Prophet Nathan, he named him Jedidiah, a name given by the Lord Himself.

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Joab bravely battled the Ammonite city of Rabbah, successfully capturing their majestic capital.

And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

Joab sent word to David, his voice trembling with triumph, "I've battled Rabbah and claimed their water-rich city."

Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.

Now, rally everyone else and prepare to conquer the city. Do it before I have to step in and claim it as my own.

And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

David united everyone, marched to Rabbah with determination, bravely battled, and triumphantly claimed victory.

And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

He boldly removed the crown from their king's head, heavy with a talent of gold and adorned with precious gems. This crown was then placed on David's head. He then revealed the city's vast riches he had claimed.

And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

He led the people out, subjecting them to harsh labor with saws, iron tools, and brick-making. He did this to all the cities of Ammon's children. Afterward, David and his people returned to Jerusalem.