| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker. | 1The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. |
| 2And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; | 2Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; |
| 3and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; | 3his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; |
| 4and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; | 4the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; |
| 5and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. | 5and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron. |
| 6While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. | 6During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul. |
| 7Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ish-bosheth said to Abner, “Why have you gone in to my father’s concubine?” | 7Now Saul had had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why did you sleep with my father's concubine?" |
| 8Then Abner was very angry over the words of Ish-bosheth and said, “Am I a dog’s head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a woman. | 8Abner was very angry because of what Ish-Bosheth said. So he answered, "Am I a dog's head--on Judah's side? This very day I am loyal to the house of your father Saul and to his family and friends. I haven't handed you over to David. Yet now you accuse me of an offense involving this woman! |
| 9God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, | 9May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath |
| 10to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” | 10and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba." |
| 11And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. | 11Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him. |
| 12And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with you to bring over all Israel to you.” | 12Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, "Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help you bring all Israel over to you." |
| 13And he said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you; that is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see my face.” | 13"Good," said David. "I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me." |
| 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid the bridal price of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” | 14Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins." |
| 15And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. | 15So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. |
| 16But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned. | 16Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back. |
| 17And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. | 17Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, "For some time you have wanted to make David your king. |
| 18Now then bring it about, for the LORD has promised David, saying, ‘By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies.’” | 18Now do it! For the LORD promised David, 'By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'" |
| 19Abner also spoke to Benjamin. And then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin thought good to do. | 19Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. |
| 20When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. | 20When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. |
| 21And Abner said to David, “I will arise and go and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. | 21Then Abner said to David, "Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires." So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. |
| 22Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. | 22Just then David's men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. |
| 23When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, “Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has let him go, and he has gone in peace.” | 23When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace. |
| 24Then Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Behold, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away, so that he is gone? | 24So Joab went to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! |
| 25You know that Abner the son of Ner came to deceive you and to know your going out and your coming in, and to know all that you are doing.” | 25You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing." |
| 26When Joab came out from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. But David did not know about it. | 26Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. |
| 27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. | 27Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. |
| 28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. | 28Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. |
| 29May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!” | 29May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab's family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food." |
| 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. | 30(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) |
| 31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. | 31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier. |
| 32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. | 32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner's tomb. All the people wept also. |
| 33And the king lamented for Abner, saying, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? | 33The king sang this lament for Abner: "Should Abner have died as the lawless die? |
| 34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen.” And all the people wept again over him. | 34Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked." And all the people wept over him again. |
| 35Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” | 35Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!" |
| 36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. | 36All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. |
| 37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. | 37So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. |
| 38And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? | 38Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? |
| 39And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!” | 39And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!" |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
|
