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

It was told Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.

2 S o 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.”

So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for they heard it said, The king grieves for his son.

3 S o 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.

The people slipped into the city stealthily that day as humiliated people steal away when they flee in battle.

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

But the king covered his face and cried 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 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.

And Joab came into the house to the king and said, You have today covered the faces of all your servants with shame, who this day have saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.

6 B ut 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.

For you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have declared today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for today I see that if Absalom had lived and all the rest of us had died, you would be well pleased.

7 S o 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.”

So now arise, go out and speak kindly and encouragingly to your servants; for I swear by the Lord that if you do not go, not a man will remain with you this night. And this will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.

8 S o 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.

Then the king arose and sat in the gate. And all were told, The king is sitting in the gate, and they all came before the king. Now Israel had fled, every man to his home.

9 A nd 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.

And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us from the hands of our enemies, and he saved us from the hands of the Philistines. And now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.

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

And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. So now, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?

11 T hen 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.

And King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Say to the elders of Judah, Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king, to bring him to his house?

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

You are my kinsmen; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?

13 A nd 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.’”

And say to Amasa, Are you not of my bone and of my flesh? May God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of my army hereafter in place of Joab.

14 H e 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.”

He inclined the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so they sent word to, Return, you and all your servants.

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

So returned and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.

16 T hen Gera’s son Shimei, the Benjamite from Bahurim, came down in a hurry with the men of Judah to meet King David.

And Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, hastily came down with the men of Judah to meet King David,

17 T here 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.

And 1, 000 men of Benjamin with him. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him, rushed to the Jordan and pressed quickly into the king’s presence.

18 T hey 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

And there went over a ferryboat to bring over the king’s household and to do what he thought good. And Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king as David came to the Jordan,

19 H e 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.

And said to the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity to me and hold me guilty, nor remember what your servant did the day my lord went out of Jerusalem; may the king not take it to heart.

20 F or 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.”

For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, behold, I am today the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.

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

But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?

22 B ut 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?”

David said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be an adversary to me today? Shall anyone be put to death today in Israel? For do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

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

Therefore the king said to Shimei, You shall not die. And the king gave him his oath.

24 T hen 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.

Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had not dressed his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until he returned in peace and safety.

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

And when he came to Jerusalem to meet the king, David said to him, Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?

26 H e 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.

He said, My lord O king, my servant deceived me; for I said, Saddle me the donkey that I may ride on it and go to the king, for your servant is lame.

27 A nd 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.

He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But the king is as an angel of God; so do what is good in your eyes.

28 F or 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?”

For all of my father’s house were but doomed to death before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I to cry any more to the king?

29 T he 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.”

The king said to him, Why speak any more of your affairs? I say, You and Ziba divide the land.

30 M ephibosheth 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

Mephibosheth said to the king, Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has returned home in safety and peace.

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

Now Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went on to the Jordan with the king to conduct him over the Jordan.

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

Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old; and he had provided the king with food while he remained at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man.

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

And the king said to Barzillai, Come over with me, and I will provide for you with me in Jerusalem.

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

And Barzillai said to the king, How much longer have I to live, that it would be worthwhile for me to go up with the king to Jerusalem?

35 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?

I am this day eighty years old. Could I now discern between good and evil? Can your servant appreciate what I eat or drink? Can I any longer enjoy the voices of singing men and women? Why then should your servant be still a burden to my lord the king?

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

Your servant will only go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37 L et 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.”

Let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city and be buried by the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king. And do to him what shall seem good to you.

38 T he 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.”

The king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him what seems good to you; and whatever you ask of me I will do for you.

39 A ll 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

So all the people went over the Jordan. When the king had crossed over, he kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and returned to his own place.

40 T he 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.

Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him; and all the people of Judah and also half the people of Israel escorted the king.

41 T hen 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?”

And all the men of Israel came to the king and said to him, Why have our kinsmen, the men of Judah, stolen you away and have brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David’s men with him?

42 A ll 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?”

But all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then be angry about it? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense? Or has he given us any gift?

43 B ut 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.

Then the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, We have ten shares in the king; and we have more right to David than you have. Why then did you despise and ignore us? Were we not the first to speak of our bringing back our king? But the words of the men of Judah were more violent than the charges of the men of Israel.