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

And it is declared to Joab, `Lo, 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.”

and the salvation on that day becometh mourning to all the people, for the people hath heard on that day, saying, `The king hath been grieved 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.

And the people stealeth away, on that day, to go in to the city, as the people steal away, who are ashamed, in their fleeing 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!”

and the king hath covered his face, yea, the king crieth -- a loud voice -- `My son Absalom, 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 cometh in unto the king to the house, and saith, `Thou hast put to shame to-day the faces of all thy servants, those delivering thy life to-day, and the life of thy sons, and of thy daughters, and the life of thy wives, and the life of thy 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.

to love thine enemies, and to hate those loving thee, for thou hast declared to-day that thou hast no princes and servants, for I have known to-day that if Absalom alive, and all of us to-day dead, that then it were right in thine eyes.

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.”

`And now, rise, go out and speak unto the heart of thy servants, for by Jehovah I have sworn, that -- thou art not going out -- there doth not lodge a man with thee to-night; and this worse for thee than all the evil that hath come upon thee from thy youth till 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.

And the king riseth, and sitteth in the gate, and to all the people they have declared, saying, `Lo, the king is sitting in the gate;' and all the people come in before the king, and Israel hath fled, each to his tents.

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 it cometh to pass, all the people are contending through all the tribes of Israel, saying, `The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, yea, he himself delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he hath fled out of the land because of 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 dead in battle, and now, why are ye silent -- to bring 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 unto Zadok and unto Abiathar the priests, saying, `Speak ye unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye last to bring back the king unto his house? (and the word of all Israel hath come unto the king, unto 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?’

my brethren ye, my bone and my flesh ye, and why are ye 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 to Amasa say ye, Art not thou my bone and my flesh? Thus doth God do to me, and thus He doth add, if thou art not head of the host before me all the days instead 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.”

And he inclineth the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, and they send unto the king, `Turn back, thou, and all thy 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.

And the king turneth back, and cometh in unto the Jordan, and Judah hath come to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king 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, the Benjamite, who from Bahurim, hasteth, and cometh 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 a thousand men with him from Benjamin, and Ziba servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him, and they have gone prosperously over the Jordan before the king.

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 passed over hath the ferry-boat to carry over the household of the king, and to do that which good in his eyes, and Shimei son of Gera hath fallen before the king in his passing over into 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 saith unto the king, `Let not my lord impute to me iniquity; neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely in the day that my lord the king went out from Jerusalem, -- for the king to set unto his 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 thy servant hath known that I have sinned; and lo, I have come to-day, first of all the house of Joseph, to go 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.”

And Abishai son of Zeruiah answereth and saith, `For this is not Shimei put to death -- because he reviled the anointed of Jehovah?'

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?”

And David saith, `What -- to me and to you, O sons of Zeruiah, that ye are to me to-day for an adversary? to-day is any man put to death in Israel? for have I not known that to-day I 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

And the king saith unto Shimei, `Thou dost not die;' and the king sweareth to him.

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.

And Mephibosheth son of Saul hath come down to meet the king -- and he prepared not his feet, nor did he prepare his upper lip, yea, his garments he washed not, even from the day of the going away of the king, till the day that he came in peace --

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

and it cometh to pass, when he hath come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king saith to him, `Why didst thou 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.

And he saith, `My lord, O king, my servant deceived me, for thy servant said, I saddle for me the ass, and ride on it, and go with the king, for thy servant 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.

and he uttereth slander against thy servant unto my lord the king, and my lord the king as a messenger of God; and do thou that which is good in thine 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 the house of my father have been nothing except men of death before my lord the king, and thou dost set thy servant among those eating at thy table, and what right have I any more -- even to cry any more unto 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.”

And the king saith to him, `Why dost thou speak any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba -- share ye the field.'

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

And Mephibosheth saith unto the king, `Yea, the whole let him take, after that my lord the king hath come in peace unto his house.'

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.

And Barzillai the Gileadite hath gone down from Rogelim, and passeth over the Jordan with the king, to send him away 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.

and Barzillai very aged, a son of eighty years, and he hath sustained the king in his abiding in Mahanaim, for he 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 saith unto Barzillai, `Pass thou over with me, and I have sustained thee 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 saith unto the king, `How many the days of the years of my life, that I 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?

A son of eighty years I to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto 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?

As a little thing, thy servant doth pass over the Jordan with the king, and why doth the king recompense me this recompense?

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, I pray thee, thy servant turn back again, and I die in mine own city, near the burying-place of my father and of my mother, -- and lo, thy servant Chimham, let him pass over with my lord the king, and do thou to him that which good in thine eyes.'

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.”

And the king saith, `With me doth Chimham go over, and I do to him that which good in thine eyes, yea, all that thou dost fix on me I do to thee.'

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

And all the people pass over the Jordan, and the king hath passed over, and the king giveth a kiss to Barzillai, and blesseth him, and he turneth back to his 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.

And the king passeth over to Gilgal, and Chimham hath passed over with him, and all the people of Judah, and they bring over the king, and also the half of the people of Israel.

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, lo, all the men of Israel are coming unto the king, and they say unto the king, `Wherefore have they stolen thee -- our brethren, the men of Judah?' (and they bring the king and his household over the Jordan, and all the men of David 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?”

And all the men of Judah answer against the men of Israel, `Because the king near unto us, and why this -- ye are displeased about this matter? have we at all eaten of the king's a gift hath he lifted up to us?'

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.

And the men of Israel answer the men of Judah, and say, `Ten parts we have in the king, and also in David more than you; and wherefore have ye lightly esteemed us, that our word hath not been first to bring back our king?' And the word of the men of Judah is sharper than the word of the men of Israel.