2 Samuel 19

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
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!'	1 The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"
2 Word was brought to Joab, 'The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.'	2 Joab was told that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom;
3 And for the entire army that day, victory was turned to mourning, the troops having learnt that the kingwas grieving for his son.	3 and that day's victory was turned into mourning for the whole army when they heard that the king was grieving for his son.
4 And that day the troops came furtively back into town, like troops creeping shamefacedly away whendeserting in battle.	4 The soldiers stole into the city that day like men shamed by flight in battle.
5 The king had covered his face and kept crying aloud, 'My son Absalom! Oh, Absalom my son, myson!'	5 Meanwhile the king covered his face and cried out in a loud voice, "My son Absalom! Absalom! My son, my son!"
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.	6 Then Joab went to his residence and said: "Though they saved your life and your sons' and daughters' lives, also the lives of your wives and those of your concubines, you have put all your servants to shame today
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!	7 by loving those who hate you and hating those who love you. For you have shown today that officers and servants mean nothing to you. Indeed I am now certain that if Absalom were alive today and all of us dead, you would think that more suitable.
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!'	8 Now then, get up! Go out and speak kindly to your servants. I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a single man will remain with you overnight, and this will be a far greater disaster for you than any that has afflicted you from your youth until now."
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.	9 So the king stepped out and sat at the gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the gate, they came into his presence. Now the Israelites had fled to their separate tents,
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;	10 but throughout the tribes of Israel all the people were arguing among themselves, saying to one another: "The king delivered us from the clutches of our enemies, and it was he who rescued us from the grip of the Philistines. But now he has fled from the country before Absalom,
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.	11 and Absalom, whom we anointed over us, died in battle. Why, then, should you remain silent about restoring the king to his palace?" When the talk of all Israel reached 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?	12 David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah: 'Why should you be last to restore the king to his palace?
13 You are my brothers, you are my own flesh and bone: why should you be the last to bring the kingback?"	13 You are my brothers, you are my bone and flesh. Why should you be last to restore the king?'
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!" '	14 Also say to Amasa: 'Are you not my bone and flesh? May God do thus and so to me, if you do not become my general permanently in place of Joab.'"
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.'	15 He won over all the Judahites as one man, and so they summoned the king to return, with all his servants.
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.	16 When the king, on his return, reached the Jordan, Judah had come to Gilgal to meet him and to escort him across the Jordan.
17 Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite of Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet KingDavid.	17 Shimei, son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, hurried down with the Judahites to meet King David,
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	18 accompanied by a thousand men from Benjamin. Ziba, too, the servant of the house of Saul, accompanied by his fifteen sons and twenty servants, hastened to the Jordan before the king.
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	19 They crossed over the ford to bring the king's household over and to do whatever he wished. When Shimei, son of Gera, crossed the Jordan, he fell down before 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.	20 and said to him: "May my lord not hold me guilty, and may he not remember and take to heart the wrong that your servant did the day my lord the king left Jerusalem.
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.'	21 For your servant knows that he has done wrong. Yet realize that I have been the first of the whole house of Joseph to come down today to meet my lord the king."
22 At this, Abishai son of Zeruiah spoke up and said, 'Does Shimei not deserve death for having cursedYahweh's anointed?'	22 But Abishai, son of Zeruiah, countered: "Shimei must be put to death for this. He cursed the LORD'S anointed."
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?'	23 David replied: "What has come between you and me, sons of Zeruiah, that you would create enmity for me this day? Should anyone die today in Israel? Am I not aware that today I am king of Israel?"
24 'Your life is spared,' the king said. And the king gave him his oath.	24 Then the king said to Shimei, "You shall not die." And the king gave him his oath.
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.	25 Meribbaal, son of Saul, also went down to meet the king. He had not washed his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes from the day the king left until he returned safely.
26 When he arrived from Jerusalem to greet the king, the king asked him, 'Why did you not come withme, Meribbaal?'	26 When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, "Why did you not go with me, Meribbaal?"
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.	27 He replied: "My lord the king, my servant betrayed me. For your servant, who is lame, said to him, 'Saddle the ass for me, that I may ride on it and go with 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.	28 But he slandered your servant before my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do what you judge best.
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?'	29 For though my father's entire house deserved only death from my lord the king, yet you placed your servant among the guests at your table. What right do I still have to make further appeal to the king?"
30 The king said, 'You need say no more. I rule that you and Ziba divide the property between you.'	30 But the king said to him: "Why do you go on talking? I say, 'You and Ziba shall divide the property.'"
31 'Let him take it al ,' Meribbaal said to the king, 'since my lord the king has come back home in peace!'	31 Meribbaal answered the king, "Indeed let him have it all, now that my lord the king has returned safely to his palace."
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.	32 Barzillai the Gileadite also came down from Rogelim and escorted the king to the Jordan for his crossing, taking leave of him there.
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.	33 It was Barzillai, a very old man of eighty and very wealthy besides, who had provisioned the king during his stay in Mahanaim.
34 'Come with me', the king said to Barzil ai, 'and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.'	34 The king said to Barzillai, "Cross over with me, and I will provide for your old age as my guest in Jerusalem."
35 Barzillai replied to the king, 'How many years have I left to live, for me to go up to Jerusalem with theking?	35 But Barzillai answered the king: "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?
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?	36 I am now eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks, or still appreciate the voices of singers and songstresses? Why should your servant be any further burden to my lord the king?
37 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king; but why should the king reward meso generously for that?	37 In escorting the king across the Jordan, your servant is doing little enough! Why should the king give me this reward?
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.'	38 Please let your servant go back to die in his own city by the tomb of his father and mother. Here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever you will."
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.'	39 Then the king said to him, "Chimham shall come over with me, and I will do for him as you would wish. And anything else you would like me to do for you, I will do."
40 The people then al crossed the Jordan, and the king, having crossed, kissed Barzil ai and blessedhim, and the latter went home.	40 Then all the people crossed over the Jordan but the king remained; he kissed Barzillai and bade him Godspeed as he returned to his own district.
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.	41 Finally the king crossed over to Gilgal, accompanied by Chimham. All the people of Judah and half of the people of Israel had escorted the king across.
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?'	42 But all these Israelites began coming to the king and saying, "Why did our brothers the Judahites steal you away and escort the king and his household across the Jordan, along with all David's men?"
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?'	43 All the Judahites replied to the men of Israel: "Because the king is our relative. Why are you angry over this affair? Have we had anything to eat at the king's expense? Or have portions from his table been given to us?"
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.	44 The Israelites answered the Judahites: "We have ten shares in the king. Also, we are the first-born rather than you. Why do you slight us? Were we not first to speak of restoring the king?" Then the Judahites in turn spoke even more fiercely than the Israelites.