1 A nd the war is long between the house of Saul and the house of David, and David is going on and strong, and the house of Saul are going on and weak.

There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 A nd there are born to David sons in Hebron, and his first-born is Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess,

Sons were born to David in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 a nd his second Chileab, of Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite, and the third Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur,

His second, Chileab, by Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 a nd the fourth Adonijah son of Haggith, and the fifth Shephatiah son of Abital,

The fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 a nd the sixth Ithream, of Eglah wife of David; these have been born to David in Hebron.

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 A nd it cometh to pass, in the war being between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner hath been strengthening himself in the house of Saul,

While there was war between the houses of Saul and David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.

7 a nd Saul hath a concubine, and her name Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and saith unto Abner, `Wherefore hast thou gone in unto the concubine of my father?'

Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?

8 A nd it is displeasing to Abner exceedingly, because of the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he saith, `The head of a dog I -- that in reference to Judah to-day I do kindness with the house of Saul thy father, unto his brethren, and unto his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David -- that thou chargest against me iniquity concerning the woman to-day?

Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth and said, Am I a dog’s head against Judah? This day I keep showing kindness and loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and his friends, and have not delivered you into the hands of David; and yet you charge me today with a fault concerning this woman!

9 t hus doth God to Abner, and thus He doth add to him, surely as Jehovah hath sworn to David -- surely so I do to him:

May God do so to Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David what the Lord has sworn to him,

10 t o cause the kingdom to pass over from the house of Saul, and to raise up the throne of David over Israel, and over Judah, from Dan even unto Beer-Sheba.'

To transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set the throne of David over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.

11 A nd he is not able any more to turn back Abner a word, because of his fearing him.

And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner a word, because he feared him.

12 A nd Abner sendeth messengers unto David for himself, saying, `Whose the land?' saying, `Make thy covenant with me, and lo, my hand with thee, to bring round unto thee all Israel.'

And Abner sent messengers to David where he was, saying, Whose is the land? Make your league with me, and my hand shall be with you to bring all Israel over to you.

13 A nd he saith, `Good -- I make with thee a covenant; only, one thing I am asking of thee, that is, Thou dost not see my face, except thou dost first bring in Michal, daughter of Saul in thy coming into see my face.'

And David said, Good. I will make a league with you. But I require one thing of you: that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.

14 A nd David sendeth messengers unto Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, `Give up my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself with a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'

And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 A nd Ish-Bosheth sendeth, and taketh her from a man, from Phaltiel son of Laish,

And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Laish.

16 a nd her husband goeth with her, going on and weeping behind her, unto Bahurim, and Abner saith unto him, `Go, turn back;' and he turneth back.

But her husband went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, Go back. And he did so.

17 A nd the word of Abner was with the elders of Israel, saying, `Heretofore ye have been seeking David for king over you,

Abner talked with the seniors of Israel, saying, In times past you sought to make David king over you.

18 a nd now, do, for Jehovah hath spoken of David saying, By the hand of David my servant -- to save My people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.'

Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David, saying, By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.

19 A nd Abner speaketh also in the ears of Benjamin, and Abner goeth also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that good in the eyes of Israel, and in the eyes of all the house of Benjamin,

Abner also spoke to Benjamin. Then went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin to do.

20 a nd Abner cometh in unto David, to Hebron, and with him twenty men, and David maketh for Abner, and for the men who with him, a banquet.

So Abner came to David at Hebron, and twenty men along with him. And David made Abner and the men with him a feast.

21 A nd Abner saith unto David, `I arise, and go, and gather unto my lord the king the whole of Israel, and they make with thee a covenant, and thou hast reigned over all that thy soul desireth;' and David sendeth away Abner, and he goeth in peace.

Abner said to David, I will go and gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a league with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires. So David sent Abner away in peace.

22 A nd lo, the servants of David, and Joab, have come from the troop, and much spoil have brought with them, and Abner is not with David in Hebron, for he hath sent him away, and he goeth in peace;

Then the servants of David came with Joab from pursuing a troop and brought much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 a nd Joab and all the host that with him have come, and they declare to Joab, saying, `Abner son of Ner hath come unto the king, and he sendeth him away, and he goeth in peace.'

When Joab and all the army with him had come, it was told to Joab, Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 A nd Joab cometh unto the king, and saith, `What hast thou done? lo, Abner hath come unto thee! why this -- thou hast sent him away, and he is really gone?

Then Joab came to the king and said, What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it you have sent him away and he is quite gone?

25 T hou hast known Abner son of Ner, that to deceive thee he came, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou art doing.'

You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and coming in and all you are doing.

26 A nd Joab goeth out from David, and sendeth messengers after Abner, and they bring him back from the well of Sirah, and David knew not.

When Joab came from seeing David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27 A nd Abner turneth back to Hebron, and Joab turneth him aside unto the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smiteth him there in the fifth -- and he dieth -- for the blood of Asahel his brother.

And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside to the center of the gate to speak to him privately, and there he smote Abner in the abdomen, so that he died to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother.

28 A nd David heareth afterwards and saith, `Acquitted I, and my kingdom, by Jehovah, unto the age, from the blood of Abner son of Ner;

When David heard of it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner son of Ner.

29 i t doth stay on the head of Joab, and on all the house of his father, and there is not cut off from the house of Joab one having an issue, and leprous, and laying hold on a staff, and falling by a sword, and lacking bread.'

Let it fall on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or is a leper or walks with a crutch or is a distaff holder or who falls by the sword or lacks food!

30 A nd Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because that he put to death Asahel their brother, in Gibeon, in battle.

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 A nd David saith unto Joab, and unto all the people who with him, `Rend your garments, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner;' and king David is going after the bier.

And David said to Joab and to all the people with him, Rend your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And King David followed the bier.

32 A nd they bury Abner in Hebron, and the king lifteth up his voice, and weepeth at the grave of Abner, and all the people weep;

They buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

33 a nd the king lamenteth for Abner, and saith: -- `As the death of a fool doth Abner die?

And the king lamented over Abner and said, Should Abner die as a fool dies?

34 T hy hands not bound, And thy feet to fetters not brought nigh! As one falling before sons of evil -- Thou hast fallen!' and all the people add to weep over him.

Your hands were not bound or your feet put into fetters; as a man falls before wicked men, so you fell. And all the people wept again over him.

35 A nd all the people come to cause David to eat bread while yet day, and David sweareth, saying, `Thus doth God to me, and thus He doth add, for -- before the going in of the sun, I taste no bread or any other thing.'

All the people came to urge David to eat food while it was yet day; but David took an oath, saying, May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else, till the sun is down.

36 A nd all the people have discerned, and it is good in their eyes, as all that the king hath done is good in the eyes of all the people;

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 a nd all the people know, even all Israel, in that day, that it hath not been from the king -- to put to death Abner son of Ner.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king’s will to slay Abner son of Ner.

38 A nd the king saith unto his servants, `Do ye not know that a prince and a great one hath fallen this day in Israel?

King David said to his servants, Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?

39 a nd I to-day tender, and an anointed king: and these men, sons of Zeruiah, too hard for me; Jehovah doth recompense to the doer of the evil according to his evil.'

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!