2
I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
3
And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper[a] in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
4
That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walkbefore me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail[b]thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
5
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiahdid to me, and what he did to the twocaptains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed[c] the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6
Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
7
But shewkindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fledbecause of Absalom thy brother.
8
And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous[d]curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD,saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
9
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wiseman, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
10
So Davidslept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
11
And the days that Davidreigned over Israel were fortyyears:sevenyearsreigned he in Hebron, and thirty and threeyearsreigned he in Jerusalem.
12
Then satSolomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was establishedgreatly.