1
And it came to pass, after the year had expired, at the time when kings go forth [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and destroyed Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2
And it came to pass in an evening, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman [was] very beautiful to look upon.
3
And David sent and inquired after the woman. And [one] said, [Is] not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4
And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned to her house.
5
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I [am] with child.
6
And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7
And when Uriah had come to him, David inquired [of him] how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8
And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess [of meat] from the king.
9
But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10
And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down to his house, David said to Uriah, Camest thou not from [thy] journey? why [then] didst thou not go down to thy house?
11
And Uriah said to David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? [as] thou livest, and [as] thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.