1 A nd Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”

Then Joab was told, “See, the king is crying. He is filled with sorrow for Absalom.”

2 S o the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.”

So the happiness of winning the battle that day was changed to sorrow for all the people. For they heard that day, “The king is filled with sorrow for his son.”

3 A nd the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

So the people were quiet as they went in secret into the city that day. They acted like people who are ashamed when they run away from a battle.

4 B ut the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 T hen Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,

Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered the faces of all your servants with shame. Today they have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, your wives and the women who act as your wives.

6 i n that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.

But you love those who hate you, and hate those who love you. You have shown today that rulers and servants are nothing to you. For today I see that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, you would be pleased.

7 N ow therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”

So now get up and go out and speak in kindness to your servants. I swear by the Lord that if you do not, for sure not a man will stay with you this night. And this will be worse for you than all the bad things that have happened to you since you were young.”

8 T hen the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “There is the king, sitting in the gate.” So all the people came before the king. For everyone of Israel had fled to his tent. David Returns to Jerusalem

So the king got up and sat in the gate. When they told all the people, “See, the king is sitting in the gate,” then all the people came to the king. David Returns to Jerusalem Now every man of Israel had run to his tent.

9 N ow all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.

And all the people in all the family groups of Israel were arguing. They said, “The king saved us from those who hate us. He saved us from the Philistines. But now he has run from Absalom and away from the land.

10 B ut Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”

We chose Absalom to rule over us and he has died in battle. So now why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”

11 S o King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?

Then King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders, saying, “Speak to the leaders of Judah. Say to them, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house? I have heard from all Israel for me to return to my house.

12 Y ou are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’

You are my brothers. You are my bone and my flesh. Why should you be the last to bring back the king?’

13 A nd say to Amasa, ‘ Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’”

And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you will not be the captain of my army at all times instead of Joab.’”

14 S o he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”

He changed the hearts of all the men of Judah as if they were one man. So they sent word to the king, saying, “Return, you and all your servants.”

15 T hen the king returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to escort the king across the Jordan.

So the king returned and came as far as the Jordan. Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and bring him over the Jordan.

16 A nd Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David.

Then Gera’s son Shimei, the Benjamite from Bahurim, came down in a hurry with the men of Judah to meet King David.

17 T here were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over the Jordan before the king.

There were 1, 000 men of Benjamin with him. And Ziba the servant of the family of Saul came with his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed to the king at the Jordan.

18 T hen a ferryboat went across to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. David’s Mercy to Shimei Now Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king when he had crossed the Jordan.

They crossed the river to bring over those of the king’s house, and to do what pleased him. Gera’s son Shimei fell down in front of the king as he was about to cross the Jordan. David Is Good to Shimei

19 T hen he said to the king, “Do not let my lord impute iniquity to me, or remember what wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should take it to heart.

He said to the king, “Let not my lord think I am guilty. Do not remember what your servant did wrong on the day when my lord the king left Jerusalem. Let not the king take it to heart.

20 F or I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

For your servant knows that I have sinned. So I have come today. I am the first of all the family of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

21 B ut Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord ’s anointed?”

But Zeruiah’s son Abishai answered, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this? He spoke against the Lord’s chosen one.”

22 A nd David said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?”

But David said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? Why should you be against me this day? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that this day I am king of Israel?”

23 T herefore the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him. David and Mephibosheth Meet

The king said to Shimei, “You will not die.” And the king gave him his promise. David Is Good to Mephibosheth

24 N ow Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace.

Then Saul’s grandson Mephibosheth came down to meet the king. He had not dressed his feet, trimmed the hair of his face, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he returned in peace.

25 S o it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, David said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 A nd he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame.

He answered, “O my lord the king, my servant lied to me. Your servant had said to him, ‘Get a donkey ready for me to travel on, so I may go with the king.’ Because your servant cannot walk.

27 A nd he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.

And he has spoken against me to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God. So do what you think is best.

28 F or all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”

For all those of my father’s house were nothing but dead men in front of my lord the king. But you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have to complain any more to the king?”

29 S o the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’”

The king said to him, “Why speak any more of how things are with you? I have decided that you and Ziba should divide the land.”

30 T hen Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.” David’s Kindness to Barzillai

Mephibosheth said to the king, “Let him take it all, since my lord the king has come home and is safe.” David Is Good to Barzillai

31 A nd Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan.

Now Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim. He went on to the Jordan with the king, to lead him over the river.

32 N ow Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.

Barzillai was eighty years old. He had given food to the king while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.

33 A nd the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

The king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will take care of you with me in Jerusalem.”

34 B ut Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

But Barzillai said to the king, “How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?

I am now eighty years old. Can I know the difference between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and women any more? Why should your servant be an added problem to my lord the king?

36 Y our servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward?

Your servant will only cross over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king reward me in this good way?

37 P lease let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

Let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. And do for him what is good in your eyes.”

38 A nd the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.”

The king answered, “Chimham will cross over with me. And I will do for him what is pleasing to you. I will do for you whatever you ask.”

39 T hen all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place. The Quarrel About the King

All the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king also. Then the king kissed Barzillai and prayed that good would come to him. And Barzillai returned to his own home. Judah and Israel Argue over the King

40 N ow the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him. And all the people of Judah escorted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. And all the people of Judah and half the people of Israel went with the king.

41 J ust then all the men of Israel came to the king, and said to the king, “Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king, his household, and all David’s men with him across the Jordan?”

Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away? Why have they brought the king and those of his family over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?”

42 S o all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close relative of ours. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?”

All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is a close brother to us. Why are you angry about this? Has the king paid for our food? Has he given us any gift?”

43 A nd the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, “We have ten shares in the king; therefore we also have more right to David than you. Why then do you despise us—were we not the first to advise bringing back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

But the men of Israel said to the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king. So we have more right to David than you. Why then did you hate us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah had more anger than the words of the men of Israel.