2 Samuel, 3

1. Now 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.

1. There was a long war between Saul's party and that of David, but David grew stronger while Saul's party grew weaker.

2. And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

2. Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3. And 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;

3. his second, Chileab, of Abigail, widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom, son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur;

4. And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

4. the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah, the son of Abital;

5. And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

5. and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.

6. And 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.

6. While war was going on between the party of Saul and that of David, Abner was strengthening his position in Saul's family.

7. And 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?

7. Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, on whose account Ishbaal chided Abner, "Why have you slept with my father's concubine?"

8. Then 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?

8. Abner was very angry because of Ishbaal's remark and exclaimed, "Am I a dog's head? Up to now I have been loyal to the family of Saul your father, to his brothers and friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David, and you come accusing me because of this woman.

9. So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

9. May God deal with me severely if I do not do for David what Yahweh swore to him -

10. To 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.

10. to transfer the kingdom from the family of Saul to that of David and make him king of Israel and Judah to rule over all the land from Dan to Beersheba."

11. And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

11. Ishbaal could no longer say a word to Abner for he feared him.

12. And 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.

12. Abner then sent messengers to David at Hebron saying, "To whom does the land belong? Enter into an agreement with me and I shall help you obtain all Israel."

13. And 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. David replied, "I will make an agreement with you, but on one condition: you may appear before me when you bring me Saul's daughter, Michal."

14. And 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.

14. Then David sent messengers to Ishbaal, Saul's son, to tell him, "Give me my wife Michal whom I married for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins."

15. And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband, [even] from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

15. Ishbaal sent for her and took her away from her husband Paltiel, son of Laish,

16. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

16. who followed her weeping all the way to Bahurim. There Abner said to him, "Go back!" and he turned back.

17. And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past [to be] king over you:

17. Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and told them, "You have long wanted to have David as your king.

18. Now 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.

18. Well, make it come true; for Yahweh made a promise to David and said: By my servant David, I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies."

19. And 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.

19. Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin; then he went to tell David at Hebron the proposals of Israel and the Benjaminites.

20. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that [were] with him a feast.

20. When Abner came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and the twenty men who were with him.

21. And 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.

21. Then Abner said to David, "I will now go and assemble all Israel for my master the king, that they may enter into an agreement with you, and that you may reign over all those you want to rule."

22. And, 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.

22. Just then, David's men and Joab arrived from a raid taking along with them a great deal of booty. Abner was no longer with David at Hebron for he had departed quietly after David had dismissed him.

23. When 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.

23. When Joab arrived with his troops he was told, "Abner, son of Ner, came to see the king; then the king sent him on his way and he went in peace."

24. Then 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?

24. Joab then went to the king and said, "What did you do? When Abner came to you, why did you allow him to leave?

25. Thou 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.

25. You know what Abner, son of Ner, is like; he came to you deceitfully to observe and find out what you are doing."

26. And 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.

26. Joab left David and sent messengers to go after Abner and they had him brought back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know of that.

27. And 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.

27. When Abner arrived at Hebron, Joab took him aside within the city gate as though to speak with him, privately. There he stabbed him in the belly and he died. Joab did so in revenge for the murder of his brother, Asahel.

28. And 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:

28. Later on, David heard about this. Then he said, "Yahweh will not punish me and my kingdom for the blood of Abner, son of Ner.

29. Let 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.

29. May justice for his blood fall on Joab and on all his father's family, and may there be forever among them some member who has discharge, or is sick with leprosy, or who is only fit to hold a spindle, or who falls by the sword or hungers!"

30. So 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 slew Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.

31. And 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.

31. David then told Joab and those who were with him, "Tear off your clothes, put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." King David himself followed the corpse.

32. And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

32. They buried Abner at Hebron; there the king wept aloud over his grave and all the people joined in the lamentation.

33. And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

33. The king began the mourning song for Abner with these words, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34. Thy 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.

34. Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls at the hands of the wicked, so you have fallen." And all the people again wept over him.

35. And 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.

35. Then the people tried to persuade David to take some food while it was still day, but David swore, "May God do so to me and more if I touch food before sundown!"

36. And all the people took notice [of it], and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

36. The people heeded this and it pleased them; in fact, they were pleased at whatever the king said.

37. For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

37. This day they realized, as did all the people of Israel, that the king had no part in the murder of Abner, son of Ner.

38. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

38. Then the king said to his servants, "Do you realize that a general and valiant warrior passed away today in Israel?

39. And 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.

39. Although I am the anointed king, today I feel helpless to control the sons of Zeruiah. May Yahweh repay the one who did evil."