| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now just as David happened to have passed the summit of the Mount of Olives, suddenly Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him, accompanied by a couple of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit, and a skin of wine! | 1When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 bunches of summer fruit, and a skin of wine. |
| 2The king asked Ziba, "What are those for?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for whoever wants to drink if they get weary in the wilderness." | 2The king said to Ziba, "Why do you have these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become exhausted in the desert."" |
| 3Then the king asked, "Where is your master's son?" "He's staying in Jerusalem!" Ziba answered the king. "He's saying 'The nation of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me today!'" | 3Where is your master's grandson?" the king asked." Why, he's staying in Jerusalem," Ziba replied to the king, "for he said, 'Today, the house of Israel will restore my grandfather's kingdom to me.'" |
| 4So the king told Ziba, "Pay attention! Everything that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!" In response Ziba said, "I'm submitting to you. Let me find favor in your sight, your majesty the king!" | 4The king said to Ziba, "All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!"" I bow before you," Ziba said. "May you look favorably on me, my lord the king!" |
| 5Later on, as King David approached Bahurim, Gera's son Shimei, who was related to the family of Saul's household, went out to meet David, cursing continually as he approached. | 5When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached. |
| 6He threw rocks at David and all of David's staff who were accompanying him, while all the rest of the entourage, including all of David's security detail, were close by him. | 6He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David's right and left. |
| 7"Get out of here! Get out!" Shimei yelled as he cursed. "You murderer! You who think you're above the law! | 7Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you worthless murderer! |
| 8The LORD has repaid you personally for murdering the entire dynasty of Saul, whose place you've taken to reign! And the LORD has given the kingdom into your son Absalom's control. Now look! Your own evil has caught up with you, because you're guilty of murder!" | 8The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the LORD has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you're a murderer!" |
| 9At this point, Zeruiah's son Abishai asked the king, "Why should this dead dog be cursing your majesty the king? May I have permission to go over and cut off his head?" | 9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut his head off!" |
| 10But the king responded, "What do I have in common with you sons of Zeruiah? If he continues to curse—and if the LORD has told him, 'Curse David!'—then who are you to be demanding to know 'Why have you done this?'" | 10The king replied, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses me this way because the LORD told him, 'Curse David!' Therefore, who can say, 'Why did you do that?'" |
| 11So David ordered Abishai and all of his staff: "Look! My own son wants to kill me! How much more now is this descendant of Benjamin? Leave him alone and let him go on cursing, because the LORD has ordered him to do this. | 11Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life--how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the LORD has told him to. |
| 12Perhaps the LORD will take note of my troubles and return good to me instead of curses today!" | 12Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today." |
| 13So David and his entourage went on their way, and Shimei walked along the hillside with him, cursing, throwing rocks, and tossing dirt at David as they went along. | 13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed David, and threw stones and dirt at him. |
| 14Eventually, the king and his entourage arrived exhausted at their destination, and David refreshed himself there. | 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so they rested there. |
| 15Right about then, Absalom and his entourage from the people of Israel entered Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel. | 15Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him. |
| 16When David's friend Hushai the Archite approached Absalom, Hushai greeted Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" | 16When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"" |
| 17But Absalom asked Hushai, "So this is how you demonstrate your loyalty to your closest friends? Why didn't you leave with your friend?" | 17Is this your loyalty to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn't you go with your friend?"" |
| 18Hushai replied, "No! On the contrary, whomever the LORD, this group, and all the men of Israel choose is where I'll be, and I'll remain with him! | 18Not at all," Hushai answered Absalom. "I am on the side of the one that the LORD, the people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him. |
| 19Besides, who else should I be serving? Why not the son? The same way I served your father, I'll serve you." | 19Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father's presence, I will also serve in yours." |
| 20So Absalom asked Ahithophel, "What's your advice? What should we do?" | 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give me your advice. What should we do?" |
| 21Ahithophel responded, "Go inside and have sex with your father's mistresses , whom he left to keep the palace in order. Then everyone in Israel will hear how your father has come to hate you and everyone who has joined you will be emboldened to act." | 21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Sleep with your father's concubines he left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged." |
| 22So they erected a tent for Absalom on the palace roof and Absalom went in and had sex with his father's mistresses right in front of all Israel. | 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. |
| 23Now Ahithophel's advice that he provided at that time was being compared to one who inquired of God, so highly regarded was Ahithophel's counsel by both David and Absalom. | 23Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God--such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel's advice. |
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