2 Samuel 19

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.	1 The king shuddered. He went up to the room over the gate and burst into tears; and, as he wept, hekept saying, 'Oh, my son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! Oh, Absalom myson, my son!'
2 And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.	2 Word was brought to Joab, 'The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.'
3 And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.	3 And for the entire army that day, victory was turned to mourning, the troops having learnt that the kingwas grieving for his son.
4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!	4 And that day the troops came furtively back into town, like troops creeping shamefacedly away whendeserting in battle.
5 And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;	5 The king had covered his face and kept crying aloud, 'My son Absalom! Oh, Absalom my son, myson!'
6 In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.	6 Joab went inside to the king and said, 'Today you have made al your servants feel ashamed-today,when they have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives ofyour concubines!-because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you.
7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.	7 Today you have made it plain that commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you -- for today I cansee that you would be content if we were all dead, provided that Absalom was alive!
8 Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.	8 Now get up, come out and reassure your soldiers; for if you do not come out, I swear by Yahweh, notone man wil stay with you tonight; and this will be a worse misfortune for you than anything that has happenedto you from your youth until now!'
9 And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.	9 The king got up and took his seat at the gate. An announcement was made to the whole army: 'Theking is sitting at the gate.' And the whole army assembled in front of the king.
10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?	10 Israel had fled, dispersing to their homes. Throughout the tribes of Israel al was dissension and people began saying, 'The king, having freed us from the clutches of our enemies, having saved us from theclutches of the Philistines, has himself had to flee the country to escape from Absalom;
11 And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.	11 and now Absalom, whom we had anointed to reign over us, has died in battle. Why does no onesuggest that the king should be brought back?'What was being said throughout Israel reached the king.
12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?	12 King David then sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, 'Say to the elders of Judah, "Whyshould you be the last to bring the king home?
13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.	13 You are my brothers, you are my own flesh and bone: why should you be the last to bring the kingback?"
14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.	14 And say to Amasa, "Are you not my own flesh and bone? May God bring unnameable il s on me andworse il s, too, if you do not become my permanent army commander instead of Joab!" '
15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.	15 Thus he rallied the hearts of the men of Judah to a man and, as a result, they sent word to the king,'Come back, you and al who serve you.'
16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.	16 So the king started home and reached the Jordan. Judah, coming to meet the king to escort himacross the Jordan, had arrived at Gilgal.
17 And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.	17 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite of Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet KingDavid.
18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;	18 With him were a thousand men from Benjamin. Ziba, servant of the House of Saul, with his fifteensons and twenty servants, arrived at the Jordan before the king
19 And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.	19 and worked manful y ferrying the king's family across and doing whatever he required. While the kingwas crossing the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera fel at the king's feet
20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.	20 and said to the king, 'I hope my lord does not regard me as guilty of a crime! Forget about the wrongyour servant did on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. Let my lord not hold my guilt against me.
21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?	21 For your servant is aware of having sinned, and that is why I have come today -- the first member ofthe whole House of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.'
22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?	22 At this, Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up and said, 'Does Shimei not deserve death for having cursedYahweh's anointed?'
23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.	23 To which David replied, 'What concern is my business to you, sons of Zeruiah, that you shouldoppose my wishes today? Could anyone be put to death in Israel today? Today I know for sure that I am king ofIsrael?'
24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.	24 'Your life is spared,' the king said. And the king gave him his oath.
25 And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?	25 Meribbaal son of Saul also went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or hands, hehad not trimmed his moustache or washed his clothes from the day of the king's departure til the day of hispeaceful return.
26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.	26 When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, 'Why did you not come withme, Meribbaal?'
27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.	27 'My lord king,' he replied, 'my retainer deceived me. Your servant said to him, "Saddle the donkey forme to ride, so that I can go with the king," your servant being lame.
28 For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?	28 He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. My lord the king, however, is like the Angel ofGod, so do as you think right.
29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.	29 My father's entire family deserved no better than death from my lord the king, and yet you admittedyour servant to the ranks of those who eat at your table. What right have I to make any further appeal to theking?'
30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.	30 The king said, 'You need say no more. I rule that you and Ziba divide the property between you.'
31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.	31 'Let him take it al ,' Meribbaal said to the king, 'since my lord the king has come back home in peace!'
32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.	32 Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim and accompanied the king towards the Jordan,intending to take leave of him at the Jordan.
33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.	33 Barzillai was a man of great age; he was eighty years old. He had kept the king in provisions duringhis stay at Mahanaim, being a very wealthy man.
34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?	34 'Come with me', the king said to Barzil ai, 'and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.'
35 I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?	35 Barzillai replied to the king, 'How many years have I left to live, for me to go up to Jerusalem with theking?
36 Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?	36 I am now eighty years old; can I tel the good from the bad? Has your servant any taste for his foodand drink? Can I stil hear the voices of men and women singers? Why should your servant be a further burdento my lord the king?
37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.	37 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king; but why should the king reward meso generously for that?
38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.	38 Please allow your servant to go home again, so that I can die in my own town near the grave of myfather and mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go with my lord the king; treat him as you thinkright.'
39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.	39 The king said, 'Let Chimham come along with me then; I shall do whatever you wish for him, andanything you request I shal do for your sake.'
40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.	40 The people then al crossed the Jordan, and the king, having crossed, kissed Barzil ai and blessedhim, and the latter went home.
41 And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?	41 The king went on to Gilgal and Chimham went with him. Al the people of Judah accompanied theking, and also half the people of Israel.
42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?	42 Al the men of Israel then came to the king. 'Why', they asked the king, 'have our brothers, the men ofJudah, carried you off and brought the king and his family across the Jordan, and al David's men with him?'
43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.	43 Al the men of Judah retorted to the men of Israel, 'Because the king is more closely related to us.Why do you take offence at this? Have we been eating at the king's expense? Have we taken any position forourselves?'
	44 The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, 'We have ten shares in the king and, what is more, weare your elder brothers, so why have you slighted us? Were we not the first to suggest bringing back our king?'The men of Judah's words were even more intemperate than those of the men of Israel.