1 A fter this, Absalom got a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2 A nd rose up early and stood beside the gateway; and when any man who had a controversy came to the king for judgment, Absalom called to him, Of what city are you? And he would say, Your servant is of such and such a tribe of Israel.

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

3 A bsalom would say to him, Your claims are good and right, but there is no man appointed as the king’s agent to hear you.

And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

4 A bsalom added, Oh, that I were judge in the land! Then every man with any suit or cause might come to me and I would do him justice!

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

5 A nd whenever a man came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

6 T hus Absalom did to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 A nd after years, Absalom said to the king, I pray you, let me go to Hebron and pay my vow to the Lord.

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.

8 F or your servant vowed while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, If the Lord will bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.

For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.

9 A nd the king said to him, Go in peace. So he arose and went to Hebron.

And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 B ut Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, Absalom is king at Hebron.

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

11 W ith Absalom went 200 men from Jerusalem, who were invited; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not a thing.

And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

12 A nd while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy was strong; the people with Absalom increased continually.

And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 A nd there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.

And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

14 D avid said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, Arise and let us flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the sword.

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

15 A nd the king’s servants said to the king, Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king says.

And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

16 S o the king and all his household after him went forth. But he left ten women who were concubines to keep the house.

And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.

17 T he king went forth with all the people after him, and halted at the last house.

And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

18 A ll David’s servants passed on beside him, along with all the Cherethites, Pelethites; also all the Gittites, 600 men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 T he king said to Ittai the Gittite, Why do you go with us also? Return to your place and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and an exile.

Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

20 S ince you came only yesterday, should I make you go up and down with us? Since I must go where I may, you return, and take back your brethren with you. May loving-kindness and faithfulness be with you.

Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.

21 B ut Ittai answered the king, As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king shall be, whether for death or life, even there also will your servant be.

And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

22 S o David said to Ittai, Go on and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

23 A ll the country wept with a loud voice as all the people passed over. The king crossed the brook Kidron, and all the people went on toward the wilderness.

And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

24 A biathar and behold, Zadok came also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until all the people had gone from the city.

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 T hen the king told Zadok, Take back the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His house.

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

26 B ut if He says, I have no delight in you, then here I am; let Him do to me what seems good to Him.

but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

27 T he king also said to Zadok the priest, Are you not a seer? return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan son of Abiathar.

The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 S ee, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.

See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

29 Z adok, therefore, and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem and they stayed there.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

30 A nd David went up over the Mount of Olives and wept as he went, barefoot and his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, weeping as they went.

And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 D avid was told, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. David said, O Lord, I pray You, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.

And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

32 W hen David came to the summit, where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head.

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

33 D avid said to him, If you go with me, you will be a burden to me.

unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

34 B ut if you return to the city and say to Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in the past, so will I be your servant now, then you may defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35 W ill not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be with you? So whatever you hear from the king’s house, just tell it to.

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 B ehold, their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them send to me everything you hear.

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37 S o Hushai, David’s friend, returned, and Absalom also came into Jerusalem.

So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.