1KI 2:4 Parallel View

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Key: yellow:verbs, red:negative, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT so that Yahweh may cause his word to stand, which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons will keep their way, to walk before my face in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ saying, ‘a man for you will not be cut off from on the throne of Israel.’

UST If you continually do that, Yahweh will do what he promised me. He said, ‘If your descendants do what I tell them to do, and faithfully obey my commands with all their inner beings, they will always be the ones who will rule Israel.’

BSB and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

OEB that Jehovah may redeem his promise which he made to me, saying, “If your sons take heed to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you” (said he) “a man on the throne of Israel.”

WEB Then Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your children are careful of their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,’ he said, ‘a man on the throne of Israel.’

WMB Then the LORD may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your children are careful of their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,’ he said, ‘a man on the throne of Israel.’

MSG ^(1-4)When David’s time to die approached, he charged his son Solomon, saying, “I’m about to go the way of all the earth, but you—be strong; show what you’re made of! Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course for life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. Then God will confirm what he promised me when he said, ‘If your sons watch their step, staying true to me heart and soul, you’ll always have a successor on Israel’s throne.’

NET and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, ‘If your descendants watch their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and being, then,’ he promised, ‘you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

LSV so that YHWH establishes His word which He spoke to me, saying, If your sons observe their way to walk before Me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul; saying, A man of yours is never cut off from the throne of Israel.

FBV If so, then the Lord will keep his promise to me when he said: ‘If your descendants are to live right before me, faithfully and with complete commitment, then you will always have one of them on the throne of Israel.’

T4T If you continually do that, Yahweh will do what he promised me: He said, ‘If your descendants do what I tell them to do, and faithfully obey my commands with all their inner beings, they will always be [LIT] the ones who will rule [MTY] Israel.’

LEB so that Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed of their way, to walk before me in faithfulness, with all their heart and with all their soul, no man of yours will be cut off from the throne of Israel.’ ”

BBE So that the Lord may give effect to what he said of me, If your children give attention to their ways, living uprightly before me with all their heart and their soul, you will never be without a man to be king in Israel.

MOF No MOF 1KI book available

JPS that the LORD may establish His word which He spoke concerning me, saying: If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, said He, a man on the throne of Israel.

ASV that Jehovah may establish his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

DRA That the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.

YLT so that Jehovah doth establish His word which He spake unto me, saying, If thy sons observe their way to walk before Me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul; saying, There is not cut off a man of thine from the throne of Israel.

DBY that Jehovah may confirm his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If thy sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee, said he, a man upon the throne of Israel.

RV That the LORD may establish his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

WBS That the LORD may continue his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

KJB That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.[fn]
(That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy/your children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.)

2.4 fail…: Heb. be cut off from thee from the throne

BB That the Lorde also may make good his worde which he spake vnto me, saying: If thy children take heede to their way, that they walke before me in trueth, with all their heartes, & with al their soules, thou shalt not (saith he) be without a man on the seate of Israel.
(That the Lord also may make good his word which he spake unto me, saying: If thy/your children take heed to their way, that they walk before me in truth, with all their hearts, and with all their soules, thou/you shalt not (saith he) be without a man on the seat of Israel.)

GNV That the Lord may confirme his worde which hee spake vnto me, saying, If thy sonnes take heede to their way, that they walke before me in trueth, with all their hearts, and with all their soules, thou shalt not (sayd he) want one of thy posteritie vpon the throne of Israel.
(That the Lord may confirme his word which he spake unto me, saying, If thy/your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before me in truth, with all their hearts, and with all their soules, thou/you shalt not (sayd he) want one of thy/your posteritie upon the throne of Israel. )

CB that the LORDE maye rayse vp his worde, which he hath spoke ouer me, and saide: Yf thy children kepe their waye and walke before me faithfully and truly and with all their hert and withall their soule, the shal there neuer fayle the a man vpon the seate of Israel.
(that the LORD may raise up his word, which he hath/has spoke over me, and said: If thy/your children keep their way and walk before me faithfully and truly and with all their heart and withall their soule, the shall there never fail the a man upon the seat of Israel.)

WYC That the Lord conferme hise wordis, whiche the Lord spak of me, and seide, If thi sones kepen my weies, and goen bifor me in treuthe, in al her herte, and in al her soule, a man schal not be takun awei of thee fro the trone of Israel.
(That the Lord conferme his words, which the Lord spoke of me, and said, If thy/your sons kepen my ways, and goen before me in truth, in all her heart, and in all her soule, a man shall not be taken away of thee from the throne of Israel.)

LUT auf daß der HErr sein Wort erwecke, das er über mich geredet hat und gesagt: Werden deine Kinder ihre Wege behüten, daß sie vor mir treulich und von ganzem Herzen und von ganzer SeeLE wandeln, so soll von dir nimmer gebrechen ein Mann auf dem Stuhl Israels.
(auf that the LORD his Wort erwecke, the he above me geredet has and gesagt: Werden your children ihre Wege behüten, that they/she/them before/in_front_of to_me treulich and from ganzem Herzen and from ganzer SeeLE wandeln, so should from you nimmer gebrechen a man on to_him Stuhl Israels.)

CLV ut confirmet Dominus sermones suos quos locutus est de me, dicens: Si custodierint filii tui vias suas, et ambulaverint coram me in veritate, in omni corde suo et in omni anima sua, non auferetur tibi vir de solio Israël.
(ut confirmet Master sermones suos which spoke it_is about me, dicens: When/But_if custodierint children yours vias suas, and ambulaverint coram me in veritate, in all corde his_own and in all anima sua, not/no auferetur to_you man about solio Israël. )

BRN that the Lord may confirm his word which he spoke, saying, If thy children shall take heed to their way to walk before me in truth with all their heart, I promise thee, saying, there shall not [fn]fail thee a man on the throne of Israel.

2:4 Gr. be destroyed to thee.

BrLXX Ἵνα στήσῃ Κύριος τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ὃν ἐλάλησε, λέγων, ἐὰν φυλάξωσιν οἱ υἱοί σου τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτῶν πορεύεσθαι ἐνώπιόν μου ἐν ἀληθείᾳ, ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, λέγων, οὐκ ἐξολοθρευθήσεταί σοι ἀνὴρ ἐπάνωθεν θρόνου Ἰσραήλ.
(Hina staʸsaʸ Kurios ton logon autou hon elalaʸse, legōn, ean fulaxōsin hoi huioi sou taʸn hodon autōn poreuesthai enōpion mou en alaʸtheia, en holaʸ kardia autōn, legōn, ouk exolothreuthaʸsetai soi anaʸr epanōthen thronou Israaʸl. )

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

God’s Covenant with Israel’s Kings

Solomon understood his role as David’s successor (1 Kgs 3:7). The aged King David had admonished his son Solomon to keep all of God’s requirements in the law of Moses in order to “be successful in all you do and wherever you go” (2:3). Solomon’s faithfulness would allow the fulfillment of God’s promises to David (1 Kgs 2:4; see 2 Sam 7:5-16). Early in his reign, he consciously emulated his father’s love for and faithfulness to God (1 Kgs 3:3), and he recognized that God had kept his promises to David (8:23-26).

Several times during Solomon’s reign, God himself communicated the inviolability of his covenant with David (3:14; 9:4-5; 11:38). God ultimately judged Solomon and subsequent kings by their faithfulness to that covenant in comparison to David (11:12-13; 14:8; 15:3-5, 11). God’s commendation and blessing or disapproval and judgment were consistently based on whether people kept or violated his law (see Deut 28). During the days of the kings, the people of Israel were condemned for willfully turning away from the clear precepts of the Lord contained in the law and spoken through God’s prophets (2 Kgs 17:13-17). Their rejection of God resulted in judgment (2 Kgs 17:18-23; 21:11-15).

God’s dealings with the kings of Israel provide an example for those who are now in covenant with God through Christ. God’s people today are to love the Lord, keep his commandments (John 14:21), and be faithful to him in all things (Matt 25:21; Luke 16:10-12; 2 Tim 3:14; 4:7). Those who follow David’s example of faithfulness will similarly receive God’s praise (see Acts 13:22). Those who confess the name of Jesus, David’s heir (Acts 13:32-37), and who have a heart of devotion to God and his word will seek to live lives that are pure and pleasing to God (see Heb 13:20-21). They look forward to an abundant, eternal inheritance (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 2:10; cp. Gal 5:19-21).

Passages for Further Study

2 Sam 7:5-17; 1 Kgs 2:2-4; 3:3-15; 8:22-26; 9:1-9; 11:1-13, 29-39; 14:7-16; 15:1-5, 11; 2 Kgs 17:13-23; 21:11-15; Acts 13:21-23

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יָקִ֨ים יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־דְּבָר֗⁠וֹ

establish YHWH DOM promise,his

Here David speaks as if Yahweh’s word were an object that Yahweh could cause to stand. He means that Yahweh will do what he said in his word. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “Yahweh may establish his word” or “Yahweh may fulfill his word”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

אֶת־דְּבָר֗⁠וֹ

DOM promise,his

Here, word represents what Yahweh said using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “what he said”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes

לֵ⁠אמֹר֒ אִם־יִשְׁמְר֨וּ בָנֶ֜י⁠ךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֗⁠ם לָ⁠לֶ֤כֶת לְ⁠פָנַ⁠י֙ בֶּ⁠אֱמֶ֔ת בְּ⁠כָל־לְבָבָ֖⁠ם וּ⁠בְ⁠כָל־נַפְשָׁ֑⁠ם לֵ⁠אמֹ֕ר לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת לְ⁠ךָ֙ אִ֔ישׁ מֵ⁠עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

to=say if take_heed sons,your DOM way,their to=go to/for=my=face/front in/on/at/with,faithfulness in=all heart,their and=on/over=all soul,their to=say not fail to/for=yourself(m) (a)_man from=under throne Yisrael

If it would be clearer in your language, you could translate this so that there is not a quotation within a quotation. Alternate translation: “saying that, if my sons keep their way, to walk to Yahweh’s face in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, then a man for me will not be cut off from on the throne of Israel.”

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

לֵ⁠אמֹר֒ & לֵ⁠אמֹ֕ר

to=say & to=say

If you preserve the direct quotation, consider natural ways of introducing direct quotations in your language. David repeats the word saying to emphasize that Yahweh said these words. Consider how you might express this emphasis in your language. Alternate translation: “when he himself said … and then he added”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

יִשְׁמְר֨וּ בָנֶ֜י⁠ךָ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֗⁠ם לָ⁠לֶ֤כֶת לְ⁠פָנַ⁠י֙

take_heed sons,your DOM way,their to=go to/for=my=face/front

Yahweh speaks of obeying him as if it were keeping a way and as if it were walking before his face. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “your sons will continue to obey, doing what I desire” or “your sons continue to live their lives in the ways that I wish”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

בָנֶ֜י⁠ךָ

sons,your

Yahweh is using sons to represent David’s descendants in general. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “your offspring” or “the people descended from you”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

בֶּ⁠אֱמֶ֔ת

in/on/at/with,faithfulness

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of trust, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: “in a trustworthy way” or “sincerely”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

בְּ⁠כָל־לְבָבָ֖⁠ם וּ⁠בְ⁠כָל־נַפְשָׁ֑⁠ם

in=all heart,their and=on/over=all soul,their

In David’s culture, the heart is the place where humans think and feel, and the soul represents a person’s life with special focus on that person’s identity and actions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate heart and soul by referring to the part of the body where humans do and experience these things in your culture or by expressing the ideas plainly. Alternate translation: “in whatever they desire and in whatever they do”

Note 9 topic: grammar-collectivenouns

לְבָבָ֖⁠ם & נַפְשָׁ֑⁠ם

heart,their & soul,their

If it would not be natural in your language to speak as if a group of people had only one heart and one soul, you could use the plural form of that word in your translation. Alternate translation: “their hearts … their souls”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת & מֵ⁠עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

not fail & from=under throne Yisrael

Here Yahweh speaks as if a king were a branch that could be cut off. He is referring to how a king could be stopped from reigning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “will not be prevented from sitting on the throne of Israel”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / litotes

לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֤ת & מֵ⁠עַ֖ל

not fail & from=under

Yahweh is using a figure of speech here that expresses a strongly positive meaning by using a negative word, not, together with an expression that is the opposite of the intended meaning, cut off. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the positive meaning. Alternate translation: “will certainly continue” or “will most definitely remain on”

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

מֵ⁠עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

from=under throne Yisrael

Here, throne of Israel represents rule and authority as king over Israel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “from reigning over Israel” or “from being king of Israel”

Parallel 1KI 2:4