| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” | 1It was reported to Joab, "The king is weeping. He's mourning over Absalom." |
| 2So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” | 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." |
| 3And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. | 3So they returned to the city quietly that day like people come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. |
| 4The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” | 4But the king hid his face and cried out at the top of his voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!" |
| 5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, | 5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your soldiers--those who rescued your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives, and your concubines. |
| 6because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. | 6You love your enemies and hate 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!" |
| 7Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” | 7Now 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!" |
| 8Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. | 8So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then they all came into the king's presence. Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent. |
| 9And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. | 9All the people among all the tribes of Israel were arguing: "The king delivered us from the grasp of our enemies, and he rescued us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom. |
| 10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?” | 10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?" |
| 11And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king? | 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. |
| 12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’ | 12You are my brothers, my flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?' |
| 13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’” | 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 the army from now on instead of Joab!'" |
| 14And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.” | 14So he won over all the men of Judah, and they sent word to the king: "Come back, you and all your servants." |
| 15So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan. | 15Then the king returned. When he arrived at the Jordan, Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and escort him across the Jordan. |
| 16And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the men of Judah to meet King David. | 16Shimei son of Gera, a Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. |
| 17And with him were a thousand men from Benjamin. And Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan before the king, | 17There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul, with his 15 sons and 20 servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king. |
| 18and they crossed the ford to bring over the king’s household and to do his pleasure. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan, | 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 down before the king |
| 19and said to the king, “Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Do not let the king take it to heart. | 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. |
| 20For your servant knows that I have sinned. Therefore, behold, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” | 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." |
| 21Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” | 21Abishai son of Zeruiah asked, "Shouldn't Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?" |
| 22But David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?” | 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?" |
| 23And the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king gave him his oath. | 23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." Then the king gave him his oath. |
| 24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had neither taken care of his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came back in safety. | 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. |
| 25And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?” | 25When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why didn't you come with me?"" |
| 26He answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for your servant said to him, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ For your servant is lame. | 26My 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. |
| 27He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you. | 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. |
| 28For all my father’s house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?” | 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?" |
| 29And the king said to him, “Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.” | 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." |
| 30And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” | 30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Instead, since my lord the king has come to his palace safely, let Ziba take it all!" |
| 31Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, and he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan. | 31Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king to the Jordan River to see him off at the Jordan. |
| 32Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. | 32Barzillai was a very old man--80 years old--and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the needs of the king while he stayed in Mahanaim. |
| 33And the king said to Barzillai, “Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.” | 33The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I'll provide for you at my side in Jerusalem." |
| 34But Barzillai said to the king, “How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? | 34Barzillai replied to the king, "How many years of my life are left that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? |
| 35I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? | 35I'm now 80 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? |
| 36Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward? | 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? |
| 37Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him go over with my lord the king, and do for him whatever seems good to you.” | 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." |
| 38And the king answered, “Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you, and all that you desire of me I will do for you.” | 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." |
| 39Then all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over. And the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home. | 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. |
| 40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. All the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way. | 40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the troops of Judah and half of Israel's escorted the king. |
| 41Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?” | 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?" |
| 42All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?” | 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?" |
| 43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel. | 43The men of Israel answered the men of Judah: "We have 10 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. |
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