| King James Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. | 1When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred bunches of summer fruit, and a clay jar of wine. |
| 2And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. | 2The king said to Ziba, "Why do you have these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the wilderness." |
| 3And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. | 3"Where is your master's grandson?" the king asked. "Why, he's staying in Jerusalem," Ziba replied to the king, "for he said, 'Today, the house of Israel will restore my grandfather's kingdom to me.'" |
| 4Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. | 4The king said to Ziba, "All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!" "I bow before you," Ziba said. "May I find favor with you, my lord the king!" |
| 5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. | 5When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached. |
| 6And he cast 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. | 6He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David's right and left. |
| 7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: | 7Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man! |
| 8The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. | 8The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you're a man of bloodshed!" |
| 9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. | 9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and remove his head!" |
| 10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? | 10The king replied, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses me this way because the LORD told him, 'Curse David!' Therefore, who can say, 'Why did you do that?'" |
| 11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. | 11Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life--how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the LORD has told him to. |
| 12It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. | 12Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today." |
| 13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. | 13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed David, threw stones at him, and kicked up dust. |
| 14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there. | 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so they rested there. |
| 15And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. | 15Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him. |
| 16And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. | 16When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" |
| 17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? | 17"Is this your loyalty to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn't you go with your friend?" |
| 18And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. | 18"Not at all," Hushai answered Absalom. "I am on the side of the one that the LORD, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him. |
| 19And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence. | 19Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father's presence, I will also serve in yours." |
| 20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. | 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give me your advice. What should we do?" |
| 21And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. | 21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Sleep with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged." |
| 22So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. | 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. |
| 23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. | 23Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God--such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel's advice. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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