1 N ow it came about after this that Absalom provided for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him.

After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.

2 A bsalom used to rise early and stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a suit to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

3 T hen Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.”

Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”

4 M oreover, Absalom would say, “ Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any suit or cause could come to me and I would give him justice.”

Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”

5 A nd when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he stretched out his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

6 I n this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 N ow it came about at the end of forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron.

At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.

8 F or your servant vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘ If the Lord shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”

For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”

9 T he king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose, and went to Hebron.

10 B ut Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘ Absalom is king in Hebron.’”

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”

11 T hen two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were invited and went innocently, and they did not know anything.

Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.

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

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

13 T hen a messenger came to David, saying, “ The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

A messenger came 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, for otherwise none of us will escape from Absalom. Go in haste, or he will overtake us quickly and bring down calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

David 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. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 T hen the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

16 S o the king went out and all his household with him. But the king left ten concubines to keep the house.

The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.

17 T he king went out and all the people with him, and they stopped at the last house.

The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.

18 N ow all his servants passed on beside him, all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had come with him from Gath, passed on before the king.

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

19 T hen the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Return to your own place.

20 Y ou came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, while I go where I will? Return and take back your brothers; mercy and truth be with you.”

Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”

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

Ittai answered the king, and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”

22 T herefore David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.

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

23 W hile all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people passed over. The king also passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness.

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 N ow behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar came up until all the people had finished passing from the city.

Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.

25 T he king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the sight of the Lord, then He will bring me back again and show me both it and His habitation.

The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favor in Yahweh’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;

26 B ut if He should say thus, ‘ I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”

but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”

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

The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

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

Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me.”

29 T herefore Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and remained there.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.

30 A nd David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went, and his head was covered and he walked barefoot. Then all the people who were with him each covered his head and went up weeping as they went.

David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 N ow someone told David, saying, “ Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”

Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 I t happened as David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, that behold, Hushai the Archite met him with his coat torn and dust on his head.

When David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.

33 D avid said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be a burden to me.

David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to 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 time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’

35 A re not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall report to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

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

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”

37 S o Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

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