2 Samuel, 16

1. And when David was a little past the top [of the hill], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred [loaves] of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

1. When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the steward of Mepibaal met him with saddled asses laden with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred summer fruits and a skin of wine.

2. And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses [be] for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.

2. The king then asked Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on. The bread and summer fruit are for your servants to eat, while the wine is drink for those who faint in the desert."

3. And the king said, And where [is] thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

3. Then the king asked him, "Where is your master's son?" Ziba replied, "He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the Israelites will give me back my father's kingdom!"

4. Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine [are] all that [pertained] unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee [that] I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

4. To this, the king said, "Everything that belongs to Mepibaal is now yours." And Ziba said, "I pay homage to my lord the king. May I always find favor with you."

5. And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name [was] Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.

5. When King David came to Bahurim, a man from the clan of Saul's family named Shimei, son of Gera, came out cursing him.

6. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men [were] on his right hand and on his left.

6. He threw stones at David and his officers although the king's men and warriors flanked the king on the right and left.

7. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:

7. Shimei said as he cursed, "Go away! Go away! You bloodthirsty good-for-nothing!

8. The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou [art taken] in thy mischief, because thou [art] a bloody man.

8. Yahweh has brought down on your head all the blood of the family of Saul. You became king in his place, but God has now placed the kingdom in the hands of your son Absalom. Ruin has come upon you because you are a bloodthirsty man."

9. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

9. Then Abishai, son of Zeruiah, said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go and cut his head off."

10. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

10. But the king said, "Why should I listen to you, sons of Zeruiah? If Yahweh has ordered him to curse me, who shall ask him why he acts like this?"

11. And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now [may this] Benjamite [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

11. Then David said to Abishai and his officers, "If my own son wants to kill me, how much more this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me if Yahweh has ordered him to do so.

12. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

12. Perhaps Yahweh will look on my affliction and turn to good things the curses heaped on me today."

13. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

13. So David and his men went their way while Shimei, following on the hillside opposite him, continued to curse as he threw stones and flung dust at him.

14. And the king, and all the people that [were] with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.

14. The king, together with his men, arrived exhausted at the Jordan where he refreshed himself.

15. And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

15. Now Absalom, accompanied by Ahitophel, entered Jerusalem with all the Israelites.

16. And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.

16. When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, appeared before Absalom and exclaimed, "Long live the king!"

17. And Absalom said to Hushai, [Is] this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

17. Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

18. And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

18. Hushai said to Absalom, "No, I will be with the one Yahweh and this people and the Israelites have chosen, and with him I will remain.

19. And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not [serve] in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

19. Whom am I now to serve? Are you not his son? As I have served your father, so will I serve you."

20. Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

20. Then Absalom said to Ahitophel, "Have a meeting to decide what we shall do."

21. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that [are] with thee be strong.

21. Ahitophel said to Absalom, "Go and be with the concubines your father has left to keep his house. When the Israelites hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, all those of your party will be strengthened."

22. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.

22. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the terrace and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of the Israelites.

23. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, [was] as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so [was] all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

23. In those days, Ahitophel's counsel was deemed as sound as the oracle of God, and so it was deemed by both David and Absalom.