2 Samuel 16

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Meribbaal's retainer, Ziba, met him with a pair ofdonkeys, saddled and laden with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of theseason's fruits, and a skin of wine.	1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 The king said to Ziba, 'What are you going to do with that?' 'The donkeys', Ziba replied, 'are for theking's family to ride, the bread and the fruit for the soldiers to eat, the wine is for drinking by those who getexhausted in the desert.'	2 And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The asses 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 faint in the wilderness to drink."
3 The king asked 'And where is your master's son?' Ziba replied to the king, 'Why, he has stayed inJerusalem because, he says, "Today, the House of Israel wil give me back my father's kingdom." '	3 And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'"
4 Then the king said to Ziba, 'Everything owned by Meribbaal is yours.' Ziba said, 'I prostrate myself!May I be worthy of your favour, my lord king!'	4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours." And Ziba said, "I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king."
5 As David was reaching Bahurim, out came a man of the same clan as Saul's family. His name wasShimei son of Gera and, as he came, he uttered curse after curse	5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shime-i, the son of Gera; and as he came he cursed continually.
6 and threw stones at David and at al King David's retinue, even though the whole army and al thechampions formed an escort round the king on either side.	6 And 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.
7 The words of his curse were these, 'Off with you, off with you, man of blood, scoundrel!	7 And Shime-i said as he cursed, "Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow!
8 Yahweh has paid you back for all the spilt blood of the House of Saul whose sovereignty you haveusurped; and Yahweh has transferred the sovereign power to Absalom your son. Now your wickedness hasovertaken you, man of blood that you are.'	8 The LORD has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood."
9 Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, 'Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me goover and cut his head off.'	9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
10 But the king replied, 'What concern is my business to you, sons of Zeruiah? Let him curse! If Yahwehhas said to him, "Curse David!" what right has anyone to say, "Why have you done so?" '	10 But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?"
11 David said to Abishai and al his retinue, 'Why, the son sprung from my own body is now seeking mylife; al the more reason for this Benjaminite to do so! Let him curse on, if Yahweh has told him to!	11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him.
12 Perhaps Yahweh wil look on my wretchedness and wil repay me with good for his curses today.'	12 It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today."
13 So David and his men went on their way, and Shimei kept pace with him along the oppositemountainside, cursing as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust.	13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shime-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust.
14 The king and al the people who were with him arrived exhausted at . . . . . . and there they drewbreath.	14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.
15 Absalom entered Jerusalem with al the men of Israel; with him was Ahithophel.	15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16 When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, reached Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, 'Long live theking! Long live the king!'	16 And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17 Absalom said to Hushai, 'Is this your faithful love for your friend? Why didn't you go away with yourfriend?'	17 And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
18 Hushai replied to Absalom, 'No, the man whom Yahweh and this people and al the men of Israelhave chosen, he is the man for me, and with him wil I stay!	18 And Hushai said to Absalom, "No; for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 Besides, whom should I serve, if not his son? As I served your father, so shal I serve you.'	19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you."
20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, 'Think careful y. What shal we do?'	20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel; what shall we do?"
21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, 'Go to your father's concubines whom he left to look after the palace;then al Israel wil hear that you have thoroughly antagonised your father, and the resolution of all yoursupporters wil be strengthened.'	21 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 have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."
22 So a tent was pitched for Absalom on the flat roof and, with al Israel watching, Absalom went to hisfather's concubines.	22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 At the time, whatever advice Ahithophel gave was treated like a decision obtained from God; as byDavid, so by Absalom, was al Ahithophel's advice regarded.	23 Now in those days the counsel which Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.