David’s Charge to Solomon^(A)

2 When the time drew near for David to die,^(B) he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

² “I am about to go the way of all the earth,”^(C) he said. “So be strong,^(D) act like a man, ³ and observe^(E) what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper^(F) in all you do and wherever you go ⁴ and that the Lord may keep his promise^(G) to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully^(H) before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

⁵ “Now you yourself know what Joab^(I) son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner^(J) son of Ner and Amasa^(K) son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. ⁶ Deal with him according to your wisdom,^(L) but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace.

⁷ “But show kindness^(M) to the sons of Barzillai^(N) of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table.^(O) They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom.

⁸ “And remember, you have with you Shimei^(P) son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim.^(Q) When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore^(R) to him by the Lord: ‘I will not put you to death by the sword.’ ⁹ But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom;^(S) you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.”

¹⁰ Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried^(T) in the City of David.^(U)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King^(A)(B)

²⁸ After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.^{(C) 29} As he approached Bethphage and Bethany^(D) at the hill called the Mount of Olives,^(E) he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ³⁰ “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

³² Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.^{(F) 33} As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

³⁴ They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went along, people spread their cloaks^(G) on the road.

³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,^(H) the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”^(K)

⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”^(L)

⁴¹ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it^{(M) 42} and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.^{(N) 44} They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.^(O) They will not leave one stone on another,^(P) because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming^(Q) to you.”