| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1When David was a little past the top of the mountain, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth, who met him with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin 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 to Ziba, “What do you mean to do with these?” So Ziba said, “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 are faint in the wilderness to 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." |
| 3Then the king said, “And where is your master’s son?” And Ziba said to the king, “Indeed he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’ ” | 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.'" |
| 4So the king said to Ziba, “Here, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I humbly bow before you, that I may find favor in your 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!" |
| 5Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously 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 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. | 6He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David's right and left. |
| 7Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! | 7Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man! |
| 8The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty 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 Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over 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!" |
| 10But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you 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 all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered 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 my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with 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 along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up 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. |
| 14Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there. | 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so they rested there. |
| 15Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him. | 15Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him. |
| 16And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” | 16When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" |
| 17So Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” | 17"Is this your loyalty to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn't you go with your friend?" |
| 18And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain. | 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. |
| 19Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your 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 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give advice as to what we should do.” | 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give me your advice. What should we do?" |
| 21And Ahithophel 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 are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will 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 pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to 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. |
| 23Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice 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. |
| 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. |
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