2 Samuel, 16

1. David had gone a little beyond the top when Ziba, the servant of Meribbaal, met him with saddled asses laden with two hundred loaves of bread, an ephah of cakes of pressed raisins, an ephah of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

1. When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Meribbaal's retainer, Ziba, met him with a pair of donkeys, saddled and laden with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of the season's fruits, and a skin of wine.

2. The king said to Ziba, "What do you plan to do with these?" Ziba replied: "The asses are for the king's household to ride on. The bread and summer fruits are for your servants to eat, and the wine for those to drink who are weary in the desert."

2. The king said to Ziba, 'What are you going to do with that?' 'The donkeys', Ziba replied, 'are for the king's family to ride, the bread and the fruit for the soldiers to eat, the wine is for drinking by those who get exhausted in the desert.'

3. Then the king said, "And where is your lord's son?" Ziba answered the king, "He is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Now the Israelites will restore to me my father's kingdom.'"

3. The king asked 'And where is your master's son?' Ziba replied to the king, 'Why, he has stayed in Jerusalem because, he says, "Today, the House of Israel will give me back my father's kingdom." '

4. The king therefore said to Ziba, "So! Everything Meribbaal had is yours." Then Ziba said: "I pay you homage, my lord the king. May I find favor with you!"

4. Then the king said to Ziba, 'Everything owned by Meribbaal is yours.' Ziba said, 'I prostrate myself! May I be worthy of your favour, my lord king!'

5. As David was approaching Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera of the same clan as Saul's family, was coming out of the place, cursing as he came.

5. As David was reaching Bahurim, out came a man of the same clan as Saul's family. His name was Shimei son of Gera and, as he came, he uttered curse after curse

6. He threw stones at David and at all the king's officers, even though all the soldiers, including the royal guard, were on David's right and on his left.

6. and threw stones at David and at all King David's retinue, even though the whole army and all the champions formed an escort round the king on either side.

7. Shimei was saying as he cursed: "Away, away, you murderous and wicked man!

7. The words of his curse were these, 'Off with you, off with you, man of blood, scoundrel!

8. The LORD has requited you for all the bloodshed in the family of Saul, in whose stead you became king, and the LORD has given over the kingdom to your son Absalom. And now you suffer ruin because you are a murderer."

8. Yahweh has paid you back for all the spilt blood of the House of Saul whose sovereignty you have usurped; and Yahweh has transferred the sovereign power to Absalom your son. Now your wickedness has overtaken you, man of blood that you are.'

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

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

10. But the king replied: "What business is it of mine or of yours, sons of Zeruiah, that he curses? Suppose the LORD has told him to curse David; who then will dare to say, 'Why are you doing this?'"

10. But the king replied, 'What concern is my business to you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse! If Yahweh has said to him, "Curse David!" what right has anyone to say, "Why have you done so?" '

11. Then the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: "If my own son, who came forth from my loins, is seeking my life, how much more might this Benjaminite do so! Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.

11. David said to Abishai and all his retinue, 'Why, the son sprung from my own body is now seeking my life; all the more reason for this Benjaminite to do so! Let him curse on, if Yahweh has told him to!

12. Perhaps the LORD will look upon my affliction and make it up to me with benefits for the curses he is uttering this day."

12. Perhaps Yahweh will look on my wretchedness and will repay me with good for his curses today.'

13. David and his men continued on the road, while Shimei kept abreast of them on the hillside, all the while cursing and throwing stones and dirt as he went.

13. So David and his men went on their way, and Shimei kept pace with him along the opposite mountainside, cursing as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust.

14. The king and all the soldiers with him arrived at the Jordan tired out, and stopped there for a rest.

14. The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at . . . . . . and there they drew breath.

15. In the meantime Absalom, accompanied by Ahithophel, entered Jerusalem with all the Israelites.

15. Absalom entered Jerusalem with all the men of Israel; with him was Ahithophel.

16. When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, he said to him: "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

16. When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, reached Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, 'Long live the king! Long live the king!'

17. But Absalom asked Hushai: "Is this your devotion to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

17. Absalom said to Hushai, 'Is this your faithful love for your friend? Why didn't you go away with your friend?'

18. Hushai replied to Absalom: "On the contrary, I am his whom the LORD and all this people and all Israel have chosen, and with him I will stay.

18. Hushai replied to Absalom, 'No, the man whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, he is the man for me, and with him will I stay!

19. Furthermore, as I was in attendance upon your father, so will I be before you. Whom should I serve, if not his son?"

19. Besides, whom should I serve, if not his son? As I served your father, so shall I serve you.'

20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Offer your counsel on what we should do."

20. Absalom said to Ahithophel, 'Think carefully. What shall we do?'

21. Ahithophel replied to Absalom: "Have relations with your father's concubines, whom he left behind to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears how odious you have made yourself to your father, all your partisans will take courage."

21. Ahithophel replied to Absalom, 'Go to your father's concubines whom he left to look after the palace; then all Israel will hear that you have thoroughly antagonised your father, and the resolution of all your supporters will be strengthened.'

22. So a tent was pitched on the roof for Absalom, and he visited his father's concubines in view of all Israel.

22. So a tent was pitched for Absalom on the flat roof and, with all Israel watching, Absalom went to his father's concubines.

23. Now the counsel given by Ahithophel at that time was as though one had sought divine revelation. Such was all his counsel both to David and to Absalom.

23. At the time, whatever advice Ahithophel gave was treated like a decision obtained from God; as by David, so by Absalom, was all Ahithophel's advice regarded.