New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and fifty men to run before him.

2Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.”

2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, "What city are you from?" If he replied, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,"

3Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.”

3Absalom said to him, "Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you."

4Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.”

4He added, "If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice."

5And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him.

5When a person approached to pay homage to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.

6In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7Now it came to pass after forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please, let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I made to the LORD.

7When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.

8For your servant took a vow while I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD indeed brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’ ”

8For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If the LORD really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron."

9And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

9"Go in peace," the king said to him. So he went to Hebron.

10Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ”

10Then Absalom sent agents throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: "When you hear the sound of the ram's horn, you are to say, 'Absalom has become king in Hebron!'"

11And with Absalom went two hundred men invited from Jerusalem, and they went along innocently and did not know anything.

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they did not know the whole situation.

12Then Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city—from Giloh—while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy grew strong, for the people with Absalom continually increased in number.

12While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David's adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase.

13Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”

13Then an informer came to David and reported, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

14So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

14David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, "Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will overtake us quickly, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword."

15And the king’s servants said to the king, “We are your servants, ready to do whatever my lord the king commands.”

15The king's servants said to the king, "Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants."

16Then the king went out with all his household after him. But the king left ten women, concubines, to keep the house.

16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace.

17And the king went out with all the people after him, and stopped at the outskirts.

17So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house

18Then all his servants passed before him; and all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who had followed him from Gath, passed before the king.

18while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the people of Gath--six hundred men who came with him from there--marched past the king.

19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place.

19The king said to Ittai of Gath, "Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you're both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.

20In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”

20Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness."

21But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

21But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, "As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!"

22So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over.

22"March on," David replied to Ittai. So Ittai of Gath marched past with all his men and the dependents who were with him.

23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.

23Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching out of the city. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the wilderness.

24There was Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city.

24Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished marching past.

25Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and show me both it and His dwelling place.

25Then the king instructed Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor with the LORD, he will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place.

26But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”

26However, if he should say, 'I do not delight in you,' then here I am--he can do with me whatever pleases him."

27The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

27The king also said to the priest Zadok, "Look, return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan.

28See, I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

28Remember, I'll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me."

29Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.

30David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. All of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended.

31Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O LORD, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”

31Then someone reported to David: "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." "LORD," David pleaded, "please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!"

32Now it happened when David had come to the top of the mountain, where he worshiped God—there was Hushai the Archite coming to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

32When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head.

33David said to him, “If you go on with me, then you will become a burden to me.

33David said to him, "If you go away with me, you'll be a burden to me,

34But if you return to the city, and say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I was your father’s servant previously, so I will now also be your servant,’ then you may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me.

34but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, 'I will be your servant, Your Majesty! Previously, I was your father's servant, but now I will be your servant,' then you can counteract Ahithophel's counsel for me.

35And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

35Won't the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Report everything you hear from the palace to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.

36Indeed they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

36Take note: their two sons are there with them--Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. Send them to tell me everything you hear."

37So Hushai, David’s friend, went into the city. And Absalom came into Jerusalem.

37So Hushai, David's personal adviser, entered Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.