2 Samuel, 13

1. And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

1. Now David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. It happened that Amnon, another of David's sons, loved her.

2. And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.

2. Amnon was so obsessed that he became ill and, as Tamar was a virgin, he could not do anything.

3. But Amnon had a friend, whose name [was] Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab [was] a very subtil man.

3. Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab, who was a very shrewd man, said to him,

4. And he said unto him, Why [art] thou, [being] the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.

4. "Oh son of the king, why do you look so miserable morning after morning? Will you not tell me?" Amnon replied, "I love Tamar, sister of my brother Absalom."

5. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see [it], and eat [it] at her hand.

5. So Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill; and when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Let my sister Tamar come to give me bread to eat and let her prepare the food in my presence so that I may eat it from her hand."

6. So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

6. So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, he told the king, "Please let my sister Tamar come to make some cakes in my presence; I will eat from her hand."

7. Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.

7. So David sent for Tamar and said to her, "Go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare him some food."

8. So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded [it], and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

8. Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house where he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made and baked cakes before him.

9. And she took a pan, and poured [them] out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

9. But when she took the pan and set the cakes before him, he refused to eat and said, "Send everyone outside." After they all left,

10. And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought [them] into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

10. Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into the bedroom and let me eat from your hand." Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom.

11. And when she had brought [them] unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

11. But when she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come, lie with me, my sister."

12. And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

12. She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me. No such thing is done in Israel. Do not commit this foolishness.

13. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

13. Where will I hide my shame? And you yourself would be regarded as a foolish man by all the people. So please, talk to the king for he will not keep me from you."

14. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

14. But he refused to listen to her and, being stronger than she, forced her and lay with her.

15. Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her [was] greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

15. Afterwards, Amnon hated her with a hatred exceeding the love he had had for her; and he said to Tamar, "Get up and leave."

16. And she said unto him, [There is] no cause: this evil in sending me away [is] greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

16. But she answered him, "No, my brother. Sending me away is a greater offense than what you did to me." But Amnon refused to listen.

17. Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this [woman] out from me, and bolt the door after her.

17. He called his servant and said, "Get this woman out and bolt the door behind her."

18. And [she had] a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters [that were] virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

18. (Now Tamar was wearing a long robe with sleeves like the virgin daughters of the king used to wear.) So the servant brought her out, bolting the door behind her.

19. And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that [was] on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

19. Tamar then put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she was wearing. Laying her hand on her head, she went away crying aloud.

20. And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.

20. Her brother Absalom spoke to her, "Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be calm and do not take this to heart for he is your brother." Desolate as she was, Tamar stayed in her brother Absalom's house.

21. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

21. When King David heard of this, he was very angry but he did not like to scold Amnon because he loved him as his firstborn.

22. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

22. Absalom, for his part, no longer spoke to Amnon. He hated him for having raped his sister Tamar.

23. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which [is] beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.

23. Two years later, when Absalom had celebrated the shearing of his flock at Baalhazor near Ephraim, he invited all the king's sons.

24. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

24. He himself went to the king and said, "I have shearers; so please let the king and his servants accept my invitation."

25. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

25. But the king answered Absalom, "No, my son, not all of us should go lest we be a burden to you." As Absalom urged him the king refused to go personally but gave him his blessing.

26. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

26. Then Absalom said, "If you will not go, please let my brother Amnon come with us." The king replied, "Why should he go with you?"

27. But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.

27. But Absalom insisted until the king allowed Amnon and all the king's sons to go with him. Absalom prepared a royal feast.

28. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

28. Then he commanded his servants, "Watch until Amnon gets drunk and when I tell you, 'Strike Amnon,' kill him. Have no fear for I myself have given you this order. Be brave and determined."

29. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

29. So Absalom's servants did to Amnon what he had commanded. On seeing this all the sons of the king hastily mounted their mules and fled.

30. And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.

30. While they were on the way, a report reached David, "Absalom has slain all the king's sons, leaving no one alive."

31. Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

31. At this, the king tore his garments and lay on the ground; and all his servants around him also tore their garments.

32. And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose [that] they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

32. But Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, "Don't imagine that they have killed all your sons. Only Amnon is dead, for Absalom had decided to kill him from the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

33. Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

33. So let not my lord the king believe that all his sons are dead: Amnon alone is dead."

34. But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

34. Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. Then the young watchman saw many people coming from the Horonaim road by the side of the mountain.

35. And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

35. Jonadab said to the king, "Was it not true what I said to you? It is your sons who are coming."

36. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

36. As soon as he had spoken, the king's sons came, crying aloud; the king, too, and all his servants wept bitterly.

37. But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.

37.

38. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

38. As for Absalom, he fled to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur, where he remained for three years.

39. And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

39. All this time King David mourned for his son. And when he had recovered from the death of Amnon he began to yearn for Absalom.