| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a container of wine. | 1When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine. |
| 2The king asked Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the loaves of bread and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert." | 2“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” |
| 3The king asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather's kingdom.'" | 3“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him. “He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’” |
| 4The king said to Ziba, "Everything that was Mephibosheth's now belongs to you." Ziba replied, "I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king." | 4“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.” “I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.” Shimei Curses David |
| 5Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul's extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached. | 5As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. |
| 6He threw stones at David and all of King David's servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left. | 6He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. |
| 7As he yelled curses, Shimei said, "Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! | 7“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. |
| 8The LORD has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!" | 8“The LORD is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” |
| 9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!" | 9“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut off his head!” |
| 10But the king said, "What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David!', who can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'" | 10“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the LORD has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?” |
| 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the LORD has spoken to him. | 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it. |
| 12Perhaps the LORD will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse." | 12And perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” |
| 13So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them. | 13So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David. |
| 14The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself. | 14The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River. Ahithophel Advises Absalom |
| 15Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him. | 15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. |
| 16When David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" | 16When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!” |
| 17Absalom said to Hushai, "Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?" | 17“Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?” |
| 18Hushai replied to Absalom, "No, I will be loyal to the one whom the LORD, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. | 18“I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the LORD and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. |
| 19Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you." | 19“And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!” |
| 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?" | 20Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?” |
| 21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Have sex with your father's concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you." | 21Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” |
| 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. | 22So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. |
| 23In those days Ahithophel's advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. | 23Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God. |
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