1 A nd 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.

Now David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar. And David’s son Amnon loved her.

2 A nd 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.

Amnon was so troubled because of his sister Tamar that he became sick. She was a woman who had never had a man, and Amnon thought how hard it would be to have her.

3 B ut Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. And Jonadab was very good at making plans.

4 A nd 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.

He said to Amnon, “O son of the king, why are you so sad from day to day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.”

5 A nd 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.

Then Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and give me some food to eat. Let her make food ready here so I can see it and eat it from her hand.’”

6 S o 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.

So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I beg you, let my sister Tamar come and make two loaves beside me, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 T hen David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

Then David sent home for Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and make food for him.”

8 S o 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.

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house. He was lying down. And she took dough and made loaves so he could watch. Then she baked them ready to eat.

9 A nd 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.

And she took the dish and held it out in front of him. But he would not eat. Amnon said, “Have everyone leave me.” So everyone left him.

10 A nd 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.

Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food to my room, so I may eat from your hand.” So Tamar took the loaves she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in his room.

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

When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come, lie with me, my sister.”

12 A nd 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.

But she said, “No, my brother. Do not make me. For such a thing is not done in Israel. Do not do this bad and foolish thing!

13 A nd 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.

As for me, where could I get rid of my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. So now I beg you, speak to the king, for he will not keep me from you.”

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

But Amnon would not listen to her. Being stronger than she, he made her lay with him.

15 T hen 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.

Then Amnon hated her very much. He hated her more than he had loved her. He said to her, “Get up! Go away!”

16 A nd 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.

But she said to him, “No! Sending me away is worse than what you have done to me!” But he would not listen to her.

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

He called the young man who helped him and said, “Throw this woman out of my house, and lock the door behind her.”

18 A nd 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.

Now she was wearing a dress which covered her arms. For this is how the king’s daughters dressed when they had never had a man. The man who helped Amnon took her out and locked the door behind her.

19 A nd 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.

Then Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the dress she was wearing which covered her arms. And she put her hand on her head and went away with a loud cry.

20 A nd 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.

Absalom her brother said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this to heart.” So Tamar stayed in her brother Absalom’s house, sad and alone.

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

When King David heard about all this, he was very angry.

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

But Absalom did not speak good or bad to Amnon. Absalom hated Amnon because he had put his sister to shame. Absalom Kills Amnon

23 A nd it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

After two full years, Absalom had men cut the wool from the sheep in Baal-hazor, near Ephraim. And Absalom asked all the king’s sons to come.

24 A nd 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.

He came to the king and said, “See, your servant has men to cut the wool from the sheep. Let the king and his men go with your servant.”

25 A nd 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.

But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son. We should not all go, or we will be trouble for you.” Absalom tried to talk him into going. The king prayed that good would come to him, but he would not go with him.

26 T hen 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?

Then Absalom said, “If you will not go, let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27 B ut Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

But when Absalom kept asking him, he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 N ow 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.

Then Absalom told his servants, “Watch when Amnon’s heart is happy with wine. When I say to you, ‘Kill Amnon,’ then put him to death. Do not be afraid. Have not I myself told you to do it? Have strength of heart.”

29 A nd 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.

So Absalom’s servants did to Amnon just as Absalom had told them. Then all the king’s sons got up on their horses and left in a hurry.

30 A nd 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.

While they were on their way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons. Not one of them is left.”

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

The king got up and tore his clothes, and lay on the ground. And all his servants standing beside him tore their clothes.

32 A nd 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.

But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said, “Do not let my lord think they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has wanted to kill him since the day he put his sister Tamar to shame.

33 N ow 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.

So do not let my lord the king take this to heart and think that all the king’s sons are dead, for only Amnon is dead.” Absalom Goes to Geshur

34 B ut 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.

Now Absalom had run away. And the young man who kept watch looked up and saw many people coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain.

35 A nd Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

Jonadab said to the king, “See, the king’s sons have come. What your servant said is true.”

36 A nd 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.

As soon as he had finished speaking, the king’s sons came and cried in a loud voice. The king and all his servants cried also.

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

Absalom ran away and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. And David was filled with sorrow for his son every day.

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

So Absalom had run away to Geshur, and was there three years.

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

The spirit of King David wanted very much to go out to Absalom. For he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.