2 Samuel, 19

1. And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

1. The king was greatly disturbed and, going up to the room over the gate, he wept and said, "O, my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

2. And the victory that day was [turned] into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

2. It was reported to Joab, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

3. And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

3. So the victory that day turned into mourning for all the people, when they heard that the king was grieving over his son.

4. But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

4. The people quietly entered the city that day, like those fleeing from battle in shame.

5. And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

5. The king covered his face and was crying aloud, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

6. In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

6. Joab then came to the king's house and said, "You have today put to shame all your servants who saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and of your wives and concubines.

7. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

7. Yes, you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that your commanders and guards mean nothing to you. I know that if Absalom were alive today and all of us dead, you would be pleased.

8. Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

8. You must now show yourself and say a good word to your guards for, I swear by Yahweh, if you do not, no one will stay with you tonight, and this will be worse than all the evil that has happened to you from your youth to the present day."

9. And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

9. So the king took his seat at the gate and as the people were informed that the king was sitting at the gate, they came before him. The people of Israel had fled, each man to his own home.

10. And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

10. Yet throughout all the tribes of Israel, the people were arguing, "The king who delivered us from the Philistines has had to flee because of Absalom.

11. And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [even] to his house.

11. We ourselves anointed Absalom to rule over us. But if he died in battle, what prevents us from bringing back the king?"

12. Ye [are] my brethren, ye [are] my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

12. King David heard what the Israelites said. So he sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, "Say to the elders of Judah: 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house?

13. And say ye to Amasa, [Art] thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

13. You are relatives, of my own race. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?'

14. And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent [this word] unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

14. Say also to Amasa, 'Are you not of my own family? I swear before God that I will make you general of my army in place of Joab."

15. So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

15. So he won over the men of Judah and, as one man, they sent word to the king, "Please return with your servants."

16. And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which [was] of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

16. So the king came back and the men of Judah went over to Gilgal to welcome him and help him cross the Jordan.

17. And [there were] a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

17. Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the people of Judah to meet King David.

18. And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

18. He had taken with him a thousand men from Benjamin. Ziba also, the steward of Saul's family, hurried down to the Jordan before the king with his fifteen sons and twenty servants.

19. And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

19. He helped the king's household cross the ford and attended to his needs. Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,

20. For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

20. and said to him, "Let not my lord hold me guilty or remember the wrong your servant did when my lord the king left Jerusalem. Let not the king remember this,

21. But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?

21. for I confess that I have sinned; and therefore I have come today, the first from Joseph's tribes to welcome my lord the king."

22. And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I [am] this day king over Israel?

22. Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for having cursed Yahweh's anointed?"

23. Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

23. But David said, "Far be it from me to listen to you, you sons of Zeruiah! This is bad advice; no one shall be put to death in Israel today. Do I not know that I am ruling again over Israel this day?"

24. And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came [again] in peace.

24. So the king assured Shimei with an oath, "You shall not die."

25. And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

25. Mepibaal, the son of Saul, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not washed his feet, or trimmed his beard, or cleaned his clothes since the king departed.

26. And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant [is] lame.

26. When he arrived to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mepibaal?"

27. And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king [is] as an angel of God: do therefore [what is] good in thine eyes.

27. He answered, "My lord, O king! My steward deceived me. For I said to him, 'Saddle an ass for me so that I may ride on it and go with the king,' since I am lame.

28. For all [of] my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

28. But he has slandered me to my lord the king. And yet my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do, therefore, what seems good to you.

29. And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

29. My father's family was doomed to die before my lord the king, but you counted your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right do I have to complain to the king?"

30. And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

30. The king said to him, "Why talk more? I have decided - you and Ziba shall divide the land."

31. And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

31. Mepibaal answered, "Oh, let him take it all since my lord the king has come home safely."

32. Now Barzillai was a very aged man, [even] fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he [was] a very great man.

32. Now, Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and he crossed the Jordan with him; then he said goodbye to him.

33. And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

33. Barzillai was a very old man of eighty, who, being a very wealthy man, had provided the king with food when he remained in Mahanaim.

34. And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

34. The king said to Barzillai, "Come, join me and stay with me; I will take care of you in Jerusalem."

35. I [am] this day fourscore years old: [and] can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

35. But Barzillai said to the king, "How many more years will I live that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

36. Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

36. Today, I am eighty years old and can discern neither what is pleasant nor what is not. Can your servant still taste what he eats or drinks; or listen to the voice of men and women singing? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

37. Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, [and be buried] by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

37. Your servant will accompany the king just a little past the Jordan. Why should the king reward me for this?

38. And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, [that] will I do for thee.

38. Please allow me to return to my own city where I may die and be buried near the graves of my father and mother. But let this my son Kimham, your servant, continue with my lord the king. You can do for him whatever it may please you.

39. And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

39. The king answered, "Kimham will come with me and I will give him whatever seems fit to you. Besides, I will do for you whatever you desire of me."

40. Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

40. As all the people had crossed the Jordan, the king also crossed. Then the king embraced and blessed Barzillai who then returned to his own home.

41. And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?

41. The king went on to Gilgal accompanied by Kimham, together with the men of Judah and some Israelites.

42. And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king [is] near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's [cost]? or hath he given us any gift?

42. Then the Israelites came to the king and asked, "Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, grabbed you? They have brought the king and his entire family over the Jordan together with all your soldiers?"

43. And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

43. The men of Judah answered the Israelites, "Because the king is our immediate relative. But why does this rouse your anger? Have we fed ourselves at the king's expense or received any gift from him?"

44.

44. But the Israelites answered the men of Judah, "We have more right to the king than you because we are ten tribes. Why did you disregard us? Were we not the first to have the king brought back?" But the men of Judah argued more vehemently than the Israelites.