| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When David had gone a little beyond the summit of the Mount of Olives, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, was waiting there for him. He had two donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a wineskin full of wine. | 1When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. |
| 2“What are these for?” the king asked Ziba. Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s people to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. The wine is for those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” | 2“Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “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 to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” |
| 3“And where is Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson?” the king asked him. “He stayed in Jerusalem,” Ziba replied. “He said, ‘Today I will get back the kingdom of my grandfather Saul.’” | 3“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’ ” |
| 4“In that case,” the king told Ziba, “I give you everything Mephibosheth owns.” “I bow before you,” Ziba replied. “May I always be pleasing to you, my lord the king.” Shimei Curses David | 4So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!” |
| 5As King David came to Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. It was Shimei son of Gera, from the same clan as Saul’s family. | 5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. |
| 6He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. | 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left. |
| 7“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David. | 7And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! |
| 8“The LORD is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the LORD has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!” | 8The LORD has paid you back for 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 your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!” |
| 9“Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king?” Abishai son of Zeruiah demanded. “Let me go over and cut 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 cut off his head!” |
| 10“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the LORD has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?” | 10But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’ ” |
| 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it. | 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so. |
| 12And perhaps the LORD will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.” | 12Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.” |
| 13So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David. | 13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David. |
| 14The king and all who were with him grew weary along the way, so they rested when they reached the Jordan River. Ahithophel Advises Absalom | 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself. |
| 15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. | 15Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. |
| 16When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!” | 16And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” |
| 17“Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?” | 17“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” |
| 18“I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the LORD and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied. | 18“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. |
| 19“And anyway, why shouldn’t I serve you? Just as I was your father’s adviser, now I will be your adviser!” | 19Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.” |
| 20Then Absalom turned to Ahithophel and asked him, “What should I do next?” | 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?” |
| 21Ahithophel told him, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, for he has left them here to look after the palace. Then all Israel will know that you have insulted your father beyond hope of reconciliation, and they will throw their support to you.” | 21Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” |
| 22So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines. | 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. |
| 23Absalom followed Ahithophel’s advice, just as David had done. For every word Ahithophel spoke seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God. | 23Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice. |
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