| Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1It was reported to Joab, "The king is weeping. He's mourning over Absalom." | 1Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." |
| 2That day's victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, "The king is grieving over his son." | 2And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, "The king is grieving for his son." |
| 3So they returned to the city quietly that day like troops come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. | 3The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. |
| 4But the king covered his face and cried loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!" | 4The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!" |
| 5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your soldiers--those who saved your life as well as your sons, your wives, and your concubines-- | 5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. |
| 6by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you! | 6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. |
| 7"Now get up! Go out and encourage your soldiers, for I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!" | 7Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now." |
| 8So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told: "Look, the king is sitting in the city gate." Then they all came into the king's presence. Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent. | 8So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, "The king is sitting in the gateway," they all came before him. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled to their homes. |
| 9People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies, and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. | 9Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom; |
| 10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?" | 10and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?" |
| 11King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house. | 11King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters? |
| 12You are my brothers, my flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?' | 12You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?' |
| 13And tell Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don't become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab!'" | 13And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.'" |
| 14So he won over all the men of Judah, and they unanimously sent word to the king: "Come back, you and all your servants." | 14He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, "Return, you and all your men." |
| 15Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan. | 15Then the king returned and went as far as the Jordan. Now the men of Judah had come to Gilgal to go out and meet the king and bring him across the Jordan. |
| 16Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. | 16Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. |
| 17There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and twenty servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. | 17With him were a thousand Benjamites, along with Ziba, the steward of Saul's household, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the Jordan, where the king was. |
| 18They forded the Jordan to bring the king's household across and do whatever the king desired. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell facedown before the king | 18They crossed at the ford to take the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell prostrate before the king |
| 19and said to him, "My lord, don't hold me guilty, and don't remember your servant's wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. | 19and said to him, "May my lord not hold me guilty. Do not remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. |
| 20For your servant knows that I have sinned. But look! Today I am the first one of the entire house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king." | 20For I your servant know that I have sinned, but today I have come here as the first from the tribes of Joseph to come down and meet my lord the king." |
| 21Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?" | 21Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this? He cursed the LORD's anointed." |
| 22David answered, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? Have you become my adversary today? Should any man be killed in Israel today? Am I not aware that today I'm king over Israel?" | 22David replied, "What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? What right do you have to interfere? Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't I know that today I am king over Israel?" |
| 23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." Then the king gave him his oath. | 23So the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king promised him on oath. |
| 24Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet, trimmed his mustache, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. | 24Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, also went down to meet the king. He had not taken care of his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he returned safely. |
| 25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why didn't you come with me?" | 25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?" |
| 26"My lord the king," he replied, "my servant Ziba betrayed me. Actually your servant said: 'I'll saddle the donkey for myself so that I may ride it and go with the king'--for your servant is lame. | 26He said, "My lord the king, since I your servant am lame, I said, 'I will have my donkey saddled and will ride on it, so I can go with the king.' But Ziba my servant betrayed me. |
| 27Ziba slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do whatever you think best. | 27And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever you wish. |
| 28For my grandfather's entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?" | 28All my grandfather's descendants deserved nothing but death from my lord the king, but you gave your servant a place among those who eat at your table. So what right do I have to make any more appeals to the king?" |
| 29The king said to him, "Why keep on speaking about these matters of yours? I hereby declare: you and Ziba are to divide the land." | 29The king said to him, "Why say more? I order you and Ziba to divide the land." |
| 30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!" | 30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let him take everything, now that my lord the king has returned home safely." |
| 31Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan. | 31Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and to send him on his way from there. |
| 32Barzillai was a very old man--eighty years old--and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim. | 32Now Barzillai was very old, eighty years of age. He had provided for the king during his stay in Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. |
| 33The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I'll provide for you at my side in Jerusalem." | 33The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me and stay with me in Jerusalem, and I will provide for you." |
| 34Barzillai replied to the king, "How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? | 34But Barzillai answered the king, "How many more years will I live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? |
| 35I'm now eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? | 35I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? |
| 36Since your servant is only going with the king a little way across the Jordan, why should the king repay me with such a reward? | 36Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? |
| 37Please let your servant return so that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham: let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him what seems good to you." | 37Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you wish." |
| 38The king replied, "Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me I will do for you." | 38The king said, "Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever you wish. And anything you desire from me I will do for you." |
| 39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned to his home. | 39So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and bid him farewell, and Barzillai returned to his home. |
| 40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel's escorted the king. | 40When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel had taken the king over. |
| 41Suddenly, all the men of Israel came to the king. They asked him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and transport the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all of David's men?" | 41Soon all the men of Israel were coming to the king and saying to him, "Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, steal the king away and bring him and his household across the Jordan, together with all his men?" |
| 42All the men of Judah responded to the men of Israel, "Because the king is our relative. Why does this make you angry? Have we ever eaten anything of the king's or been honored at all?" | 42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "We did this because the king is closely related to us. Why are you angry about it? Have we eaten any of the king's provisions? Have we taken anything for ourselves?" |
| 43The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: "We have ten shares in the king, so we have a greater claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Weren't we the first to speak of restoring our king?" But the words of the men of Judah were harsher than those of the men of Israel. | 43Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king; so we have a greater claim on David than you have. Why then do you treat us with contempt? Weren't we the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the men of Judah pressed their claims even more forcefully than the men of Israel. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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