| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard. | 1In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. |
| 2Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, "What city are you from?" The person would answer, "I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel." | 2He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, "What town are you from?" He would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." |
| 3Absalom would then say to him, "Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you." | 3Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you." |
| 4Absalom would then say, "If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement." | 4And Absalom would add, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice." |
| 5When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. | 5Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. |
| 6Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel. | 6Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the people of Israel. |
| 7After four years Absalom said to the king, "Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the LORD while I was in Hebron. | 7At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, "Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the LORD. |
| 8For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: 'If the LORD really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.'" | 8While your servant was living at Geshur in Aram, I made this vow: 'If the LORD takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.'" |
| 9The king replied to him, "Go in peace." So Absalom got up and went to Hebron. | 9The king said to him, "Go in peace." So he went to Hebron. |
| 10Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, "When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron." | 10Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'" |
| 11Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning. | 11Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. |
| 12While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom. | 12While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing. |
| 13Then a messenger came to David and reported, "The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!" | 13A messenger came and told David, "The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom." |
| 14So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come on! Let's escape! Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring disaster on us and kill the city's residents with the sword." | 14Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, "Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword." |
| 15The king's servants replied to the king, "We will do whatever our lord the king decides." | 15The king's officials answered him, "Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses." |
| 16So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace. | 16The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. |
| 17The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing at a spot some distance away. | 17So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. |
| 18All his servants were leaving with him, along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites--some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with the king. | 18All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king. |
| 19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. | 19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. |
| 20It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May genuine loyal love protect you!" | 20You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness." |
| 21But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive, there I will be as well!" | 21But Ittai replied to the king, "As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be." |
| 22So David said to Ittai, "Come along then." So Ittai the Gittite went along, accompanied by all his men and all the dependents who were with him. | 22David said to Ittai, "Go ahead, march on." So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him. |
| 23All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving. As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert. | 23The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness. |
| 24Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. | 24Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. |
| 25Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the LORD's sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again. | 25Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. |
| 26However, if he should say, 'I do not take pleasure in you,' then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate." | 26But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him." |
| 27The king said to Zadok the priest, "Are you a seer? Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar. | 27The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Do you understand? Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar's son Jonathan. You and Abiathar return with your two sons. |
| 28Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you reaches me." | 28I will wait at the fords in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me." |
| 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there. | 29So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there. |
| 30As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up. | 30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went; his head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. |
| 31Now David had been told, "Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed, "Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O LORD!" | 31Now David had been told, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "LORD, turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness." |
| 32When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. | 32When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head. |
| 33David said to him, "If you leave with me you will be a burden to me. | 33David said to him, "If you go with me, you will be a burden to me. |
| 34But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father's servant, and now I will be your servant.' | 34But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father's servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,' then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel's advice. |
| 35Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Everything you hear in the king's palace you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. | 35Won't the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king's palace. |
| 36Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear." | 36Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear." |
| 37So David's friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem. | 37So Hushai, David's confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city. |
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