| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a container of wine. | 1When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. |
| 2The king asked Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the loaves of bread and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert." | 2And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” |
| 3The king asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather's kingdom.'" | 3And the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” |
| 4The king said to Ziba, "Everything that was Mephibosheth's now belongs to you." Ziba replied, "I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king." | 4Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.” |
| 5Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul's extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached. | 5When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. |
| 6He threw stones at David and all of King David's servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left. | 6And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. |
| 7As he yelled curses, Shimei said, "Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! | 7And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! |
| 8The LORD has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!" | 8The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.” |
| 9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!" | 9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” |
| 10But the king said, "What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David!', who can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'" | 10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” |
| 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the LORD has spoken to him. | 11And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. |
| 12Perhaps the LORD will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse." | 12It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.” |
| 13So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them. | 13So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. |
| 14The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself. | 14And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself. |
| 15Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him. | 15Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. |
| 16When David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" | 16And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” |
| 17Absalom said to Hushai, "Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?" | 17And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” |
| 18Hushai replied to Absalom, "No, I will be loyal to the one whom the LORD, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. | 18And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. |
| 19Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you." | 19And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.” |
| 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?" | 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” |
| 21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Have sex with your father's concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you." | 21Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” |
| 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. | 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. |
| 23In those days Ahithophel's advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. | 23Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. |
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