| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. | 1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. |
| 2And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; | 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; |
| 3And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; | 3his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; |
| 4And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; | 4the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; |
| 5And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. | 5and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. |
| 6And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. | 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. |
| 7And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? | 7Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?" |
| 8Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman? | 8Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, "Am I a dog's head--on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! |
| 9So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him; | 9May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath |
| 10To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. | 10and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba." |
| 11And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him. | 11Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him. |
| 12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee. | 12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you." |
| 13And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. | 13"Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me." |
| 14And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. | 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins." |
| 15And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. | 15So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. | 16Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back. |
| 17And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: | 17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. |
| 18Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. | 18Now do it! For the LORD promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'" |
| 19And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. | 19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. |
| 20So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. | 20When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. |
| 21And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace. | 21Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. |
| 22And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. | 22Just then David's men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. |
| 23When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace. | 23When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace. |
| 24Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone? | 24So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! |
| 25Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest. | 25You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing." |
| 26And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not. | 26Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. |
| 27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. | 27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. |
| 28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: | 28Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. |
| 29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. | 29May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab's family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food." |
| 30So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. | 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) |
| 31And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. | 31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier. |
| 32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. | 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept also. |
| 33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth? | 33The king sang this lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died as the lawless die? |
| 34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. | 34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked." And all the people wept over him again. |
| 35And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down. | 35Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!" |
| 36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. | 36All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 37For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner. | 37So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. |
| 38And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? |
| 39And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. | 39And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!" |
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