2 Samuel 3

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.	1 So the war dragged on between the House of Saul and the House of David, but David grew steadilystronger and the House of Saul steadily weaker.
2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;	2 The sons born to David at Hebron were: his first-born Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;	3 his second Chileab, by Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third Absalom son of Maacah, daughter ofTalmai king of Geshur;
4 And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;	4 the fourth Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth Shephatiah son of Abital;
5 And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.	5 the sixth Ithream, by David's wife, Eglah. These were born to David at Hebron.
6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.	6 This is what took place during the war between the House of Saul and the House of David. Abner tookcomplete control in the House of Saul.
7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?	7 Now, there was a concubine of Saul's called Rizpah daughter of Aiah, and Abner took her. Ishbaal saidto Abner, 'Why have you slept with my father's concubine?'
8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?	8 At these words of Ishbaal, Abner flew into a rage. 'Am I a dog's head?' he shouted. 'Here am I, ful offaithful love towards the House of Saul your father, his brothers and his friends, not leaving you to the hands ofDavid, and now you find fault with me over a woman!
9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;	9 May God bring unnameable il s on Abner, and worse ones, too, if I do not bring about what Yahweh hassworn to David:
10 To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.	10 to take the sovereignty from the House of Saul, and establish David's throne over Israel as well asJudah, from Dan to Beersheba!'
11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.	11 Ishbaal dared not say a single word to Abner in reply, as he was afraid of him.
12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.	12 Abner sent messengers on his own behalf to say to David, '. . . and furthermore, come to anagreement with me and I wil give you my support to win al Israel over to you.'
13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.	13 'Very wel ,' David said, 'I wil come to an agreement with you. I impose one condition however; you wilnot be admitted to my presence unless you bring me Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me.'
14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.	14 David then sent messengers to say to Ishbaal son of Saul, 'Give me back my wife Michal, whom Iacquired for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.'
15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.	15 So Ishbaal sent for her to be taken from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.	16 Her husband set off with her and fol owed her, weeping as he went, as far as Bahurim; but Abner saidto him, 'Go back!' and he went.
17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:	17 Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel. 'For a long time now,' he said, 'you have wanted Davidas your king.
18 Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.	18 Now you must take action, since Yahweh has said of David, "By the hand of my servant David I shaldeliver my people Israel from the clutches of the Philistines and al their enemies." '
19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.	19 Abner also spoke to the men of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tel David everything that hadbeen agreed by Israel and the House of Benjamin.
20 So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.	20 Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David at Hebron, and David held a feast for Abner andthe men who were with him.
21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.	21 Abner then said to David, 'I must get up and go. I am going to rally al Israel to my lord the king, so thatthey will make an alliance with you, and you wil reign over al that you desire.' So David al owed Abner to go,and he went unmolested.
22 And, Behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.	22 David's retainers were just then coming back with Joab from a raid, bringing a great quantity of bootywith them. Abner was no longer with David at Hebron, since David had allowed him to go, and he had goneunmolested.
23 When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.	23 When Joab and the whole company with him had arrived, Joab was told, 'Abner son of Ner has beento the king, and the king has al owed Abner to go away unmolested.'
24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?	24 Joab then went to the king and said, 'What have you done? Abner comes to you and you let him goaway and now he has gone-why?
25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.	25 You know Abner son of Ner! He came to trick you, to discover your every move, to find out what youare doing.'
26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.	26 Joab left David's presence and sent messengers after Abner and these, unknown to David, broughthim back from the storage-wel at Sirah.
27 And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.	27 When Abner reached Hebron, Joab took him aside in the town-gate, as if to have a quiet word withhim, and there struck him a mortal blow in the bel y to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel.
28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:	28 Afterwards, when David heard of this, he said, 'I and my kingdom are for ever innocent before Yahwehof the blood of Abner son of Ner;
29 Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.	29 may it fal on the head of Joab and on al his family! May the House of Joab never be free of menafflicted with haemorrhage or a virulent skin-disease, whose strength is in the distaff, who fall by the sword, wholack food.'
30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.	30 (Joab and his brother Abishai had murdered Abner because he killed their brother Asahel at the battleof Gibeon.)
31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.	31 David then said to Joab and the whole company with him, 'Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, andmourn over Abner,' and King David walked behind the bier.
32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.	32 They buried Abner at Hebron, and the king wept aloud on his grave, and the people al wept too.
33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?	33 The king made this lament over Abner: Should Abner have died as a brute dies?
34 Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.	34 Your hands were not tied, your feet not chained; you fel as a man falls at the hands of criminals. Andal the people wept for him louder than ever.
35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.	35 The people then al tried to persuade David to have some food while it was still daylight, but Davidswore this oath, 'May God bring unnameable il s on me, and worse il s, too, if I taste bread or anything whateveruntil the sun is down!'
36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.	36 Al the people took note of this and it pleased them; indeed, everything the king did pleased thepeople.
37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.	37 That day, al the people and al Israel understood that the king had had no part in the murder of Abnerson of Ner.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?	38 The king said to his retainers, 'Do you not realise that a prince, a great man, has fal en in Israel today?
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.	39 I, though anointed king, am weak at present, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too strong forme. May Yahweh repay the criminal as his crime deserves!'