1 A nd it cometh to pass afterwards, that Absalom prepareth for himself a chariot, and horses, and fifty men are running before him;

After this, Absalom got a war-wagon and horses, and fifty men to run in front of him.

2 a nd Absalom hath risen early, and stood by the side of the way of the gate, and it cometh to pass, every man who hath a pleading to come unto the king for judgment, that Absalom calleth unto him, and saith, `Of what city thou?' and he saith, `Of one of the tribes of Israel thy servant.'

He used to get up early and stand beside the way to the gate. When any man had a problem to be decided upon by the king, Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would answer, “Your servant is from one of the families of Israel.”

3 A nd Absalom saith unto him, `See, thy matters good and straightforward -- and there is none hearkening to thee from the king.'

Then Absalom would say to him, “Your side of the problem is good and right. But there is no man to listen to you for the king.”

4 A nd Absalom saith, `Who doth make me a judge in the land, that unto me doth come every man who hath a plea and judgment? -- then I have declared him righteous.'

And Absalom would say, “If only I were chosen to be the one to be judge in the land! Then every man who has a problem could come to me. And I would do for him what is right and fair.”

5 A nd it hath come to pass, in the drawing nearing of any one to bow himself to him, that he hath put forth his hand, and laid hold on him, and given a kiss to him;

When a man came near to put his face to the ground in front of him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him.

6 a nd Absalom doth according to this thing to all Israel who come in for judgment unto the king, and Absalom stealeth the heart of the men of Israel.

He acted this way toward all those of Israel who came with a problem for the king to judge. So Absalom became friends with the men of Israel.

7 A nd it cometh to pass, at the end of forty years, that Absalom saith unto the king, `Let me go, I pray thee, and I complete my vow, that I vowed to Jehovah in Hebron,

At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, “I ask you, let me go to Hebron and keep my promise that I have promised to the Lord.

8 f or a vow hath thy servant vowed in my dwelling in Geshur, in Aram, saying, If Jehovah doth certainly bring me back to Jerusalem, then I have served Jehovah.'

For your servant made a promise while I was living at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the Lord will bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.’”

9 A nd the king saith to him, `Go in peace;' and he riseth and goeth to Hebron,

And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he got up and went to Hebron.

10 a nd Absalom sendeth spies through all the tribes of Israel, saying, `At your hearing the voice of the trumpet, then ye have said, Absalom hath reigned in Hebron.'

But Absalom sent men to go in secret through all the families of Israel. He said to them, “As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, then say, ‘Absalom is king at Hebron.’”

11 A nd with Absalom have gone two hundred men, out of Jerusalem, invited ones, and they are going in their simplicity, and have not known anything;

With Absalom went 200 men from Jerusalem. They had been asked to come, and did not know what Absalom had planned.

12 a nd Absalom sendeth Ahithophel the Gilonite, a counsellor of David, out of his city, out of Gilo, in his sacrificing sacrifices; and the conspiracy is strong, and the people are going and increasing with Absalom.

While Absalom was giving gifts on the altar in worship, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city Giloh. He was the man who talked with David about what to do. The plans against David became strong. For more and more people joined Absalom. David Runs from Jerusalem

13 A nd he who is declaring tidings cometh in unto David, saying, `The heart of the men of Israel hath been after Absalom.'

Then a man came to David with news, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

14 A nd David saith to all his servants who with him in Jerusalem, `Rise, and we flee, for we have no escape from the face of Absalom; haste to go, lest he hasten, and have overtaken us, and forced on us evil, and smitten the city by the mouth of the sword.'

David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Get up and let us run. Or else none of us will be safe from Absalom. Hurry and go, or he will be quick to catch us and bring trouble upon us. He would destroy the city with the sword.”

15 A nd the servants of the king say unto the king, `According to all that my lord the king chooseth -- lo, thy servants.'

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

16 A nd the king goeth out, and all his household at his feet, and the king leaveth ten women -- concubines -- to keep the house.

So the king left with all those of his house. But he left ten of his women to take care of the house.

17 A nd the king goeth out, and all the people at his feet, and they stand still at the farthest off house.

The king left with all the people, and they stopped at the last house.

18 A nd all his servants are passing on at his side, and all the Cherethite, and all the Pelethite, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came at his feet from Gath, are passing on at the front of the king.

All his servants passed by him, and all the Cherethites, Pelethites, Gittites, and 600 men who had come with him from Gath. They all passed by the king.

19 A nd the king saith unto Ittai the Gittite, `Why dost thou go -- thou also -- with us? turn back -- and abide with the king, for thou a stranger, and also an exile thou -- to thy place.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you go with us also? Return and stay with the king. For you are from another land and have been driven from your home.

20 Y esterday thy coming in, and to-day I move thee to go with us, and I am going on that which I am going! -- turn back, and take back thy brethren with thee, -- kindness and truth.'

You came only yesterday. Should I make you go with us today, when I do not know where I am going? Return with your brothers. May loving-kindness and faith be with you.”

21 A nd Ittai answereth the king and saith, `Jehovah liveth, and my lord the king liveth, surely in the place where my lord the king is -- if for death, if for life, surely there is thy servant.'

But Ittai said to the king, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, your servant will be where my lord the king may be, in death or in life.”

22 A nd David saith unto Ittai, `Go and pass over;' and Ittai the Gittite passeth over, and all his men, and all the infants who with him.

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

23 A nd all the land are weeping -- a great voice, and all the people are passing over; and the king is passing over through the brook Kidron, and all the people are passing over on the front of the way of the wilderness;

All the country was crying with a loud voice as all the people passed by. The king crossed the river Kidron, and all the people went on toward the desert.

24 a nd lo, also Zadok, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God, and they make the ark of God firm, and Abiathar goeth up, till the completion of all the people to pass over out of the city.

Zadok came also, with all the Levites who carried the special box with the Law of God. Abiathar had the special box of God put down until all the people had passed out of the city.

25 A nd the king saith to Zadok, `Take back the ark of God to the city; if I find grace in the eyes of Jehovah, then He hath brought me back, and shewn me it and His habitation;

The king said to Zadok, “Return the special box of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will have me return. And He will have me see both it and His family.

26 a nd if thus He say, I have not delighted in thee; here I, He doth to me as good in His eyes.'

But if He says, ‘I have no joy in you,’ then here I am. Let Him do to me what He thinks is good.”

27 A nd the king saith unto Zadok the priest, `Art thou a seer? turn back to the city in peace, and Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar, your two sons with you;

And the king said to Zadok the religious leader, “Are you not a man who speaks for God? Return to the city in peace with Abiathar and your two sons, your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.

28 s ee ye, I am tarrying in the plains of the wilderness till the coming in of a word from you to declare to me.'

See, I will wait in the desert by the place where the river is crossed, until I hear from you.”

29 A nd Zadok taketh back -- and Abiathar -- the ark of God to Jerusalem, and they abide there.

So Zadok and Abiathar returned the special box of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30 A nd David is going up in the ascent of the olives, going up and weeping, and he hath the head covered, and he is going barefooted, and all the people who with him have covered each his head, and have gone up, going up and weeping;

David went up the Mount of Olives and cried as he went. His head was covered and he wore no shoes. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up crying as they went.

31 a nd David declared, saying, `Ahithophel among the conspirators with Absalom;' and David saith, `Make foolish, I pray Thee, the counsel of Ahithophel, O Jehovah.'

Now David was told, “Ahithophel is among those who are making plans with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, make the words of Ahithophel foolish.”

32 A nd it cometh to pass, David hath come unto the top, where he boweth himself to God, and lo, to meet him Hushai the Archite, his coat rent, and earth on his head;

As David was coming to the top of the mountain, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite met him. His coat was torn and there was dust on his head.

33 a nd David saith to him, `If thou hast passed on with me then thou hast been on me for a burden,

David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be trouble for me.

34 a nd if to the city thou dost turn back, and hast said to Absalom, Thy servant I am, O king; servant of thy father I also hitherto, and now, I also thy servant; then thou hast made void for me the counsel of Ahithophel;

But if you return to the city, you can bring trouble to the words of Ahithophel for me. Say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. I will work for you as I have worked for your father in the past.’ Then you can make the words of Ahithophel foolish for me.

35 a nd are there not with thee there Zadok and Abiathar the priests? and it hath been, the whole of the matter that thou hearest from the house of the king thou dost declare to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests.

Will not Zadok and Abiathar the religious leaders be there with you? Tell Zadok and Abiathar whatever you hear from the king’s house.

36 L o, there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz to Zadok, and Jonathan to Abiathar, and ye have sent by their hand unto me anything that ye hear.'

Their two sons are with them there, Zadok’s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan. By them you can send me news of all that you hear.”

37 A nd Hushai, David's friend, cometh in to the city, and Absalom cometh in to Jerusalem.

So David’s friend Hushai came into Jerusalem, just as Absalom was coming into the city.