³ David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David became the father of more sons and daughters.

¹⁷ Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

⁴ He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

⁵ and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?'

¹⁴ Yet you say, 'Why?' Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.

⁹ Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity: for that is your portion in life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

²⁶ I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

²⁷ Behold, this have I found, says the Preacher, one to another, to find out the scheme;

²⁸ which my soul still seeks; but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

²⁹ Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer-- Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

¹ Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;

² the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;

³ the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife:

⁴ six were born to him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months. In Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years;

³ He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

¹³ David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

⁸ He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so.