{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/kjv/2-samuel/12","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T00:35:20.824Z"},"reference":{"translation":"KJV","book":"2 Samuel","bookSlug":"2-samuel","chapter":12,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":11,"nextChapter":13,"totalChapters":24,"totalVerses":31},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"The rich <i>man</i> had exceeding many flocks and herds:"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"But the poor <i>man</i> 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."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, <i>As</i> the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this <i>thing</i> shall surely die:"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"And Nathan said to David, Thou <i>art</i> 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;"},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"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 <i>that had been</i> too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"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 <i>to be</i> thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon."},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"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 <i>them</i> unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"For thou didst <i>it</i> secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also <i>that is</i> born unto thee shall surely die."},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick."},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"And the elders of his house arose, <i>and went</i> to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"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?"},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed <i>himself</i>, 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."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Then said his servants unto him, What thing <i>is</i> this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, <i>while it was</i> alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread."},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell <i>whether</i> GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?"},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD."},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city."},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters."},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"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."},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it."},{"verseNumber":30,"text":"And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof <i>was</i> a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was <i>set</i> on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance."},{"verseNumber":31,"text":"And he brought forth the people that <i>were</i> therein, and put <i>them</i> under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem."}],"citation":{"inline":"2 Samuel 12 (KJV)","markdown":"[2 Samuel 12](https://primebible.com/kjv/2-samuel/12)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* KJV. https://primebible.com/kjv/2-samuel/12 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}