| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. | 1After this, Absalom got himself a chariot, horses, and 50 men to run before him. |
| 2And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. | 2He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for settlement, Absalom called out to him and asked, "What city are you from?" If he replied, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel," |
| 3And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. | 3Absalom said to him, "Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you." |
| 4Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! | 4He added, "If only someone would appoint me judge in the land. Then anyone who had a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would make sure he received justice." |
| 5And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. | 5When a person approached to bow down to him, Absalom reached out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him. |
| 6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. | 6Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for a settlement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. |
| 7And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. | 7When four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD. |
| 8For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. | 8For your servant made a vow when I lived in Geshur of Aram, saying: If the LORD really brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron."" |
| 9And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. | 9Go in peace," the king said to him. So he went to Hebron. |
| 10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. | 10Then Absalom sent messengers throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: "When you hear the sound of the ram's horn, you are to say, 'Absalom has become king in Hebron!'" |
| 11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. | 11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They had been invited and were going innocently, for they knew nothing about the whole matter. |
| 12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counseller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. | 12While he was offering the sacrifices, Absalom sent for David's adviser Ahithophel the Gilonite, from his city of Giloh. So the conspiracy grew strong, and the people supporting Absalom continued to increase. |
| 13And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. | 13Then an informer came to David and reported, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom." |
| 14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. | 14David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, "Get up. We have to flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! Leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword." |
| 15And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. | 15The king's servants said to him, "Whatever my lord the king decides, we are your servants." |
| 16And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. | 16Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind 10 concubines to take care of the palace. |
| 17And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. | 17So the king set out, and all the people followed him. They stopped at the last house |
| 18And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. | 18while all his servants marched past him. Then all the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and the Gittites--600 men who came with him from Gath--marched past the king. |
| 19Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. | 19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why are you also going with us? Go back and stay with the new king since you're both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. |
| 20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. | 20Besides, you only arrived yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I go wherever I can? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness." |
| 21And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. | 21But in response, Ittai vowed to the king, "As the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether it means life or death, your servant will be there!"" |
| 22And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. | 22March on," David replied to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and the children who were with him. |
| 23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. | 23Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly while all the people were marching past. As the king was crossing the Kidron Valley, all the people were marching past on the road that leads to the desert. |
| 24And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. | 24Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set the ark of God down, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until the people had finished marching past. |
| 25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: | 25Then the king instructed Zadok, "Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the LORD's eyes, He will bring me back and allow me to see both it and its dwelling place. |
| 26But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. | 26However, if He should say, 'I do not delight in you,' then here I am--He can do with me whatever pleases Him." |
| 27The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. | 27The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Look, return to the city in peace and your two sons with you: your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. |
| 28See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. | 28Remember, I'll wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me." |
| 29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there. | 29So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there. |
| 30And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. | 30David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. Each of the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they ascended. |
| 31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. | 31Then someone reported to David: "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom."" LORD," David pleaded, "please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!" |
| 32And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head: | 32When David came to the summit where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. |
| 33Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me: | 33David said to him, "If you go away with me, you'll be a burden to me, |
| 34But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. | 34but if you return to the city and tell Absalom, 'I will be your servant, my king! Previously, I was your father's servant, but now I will be your servant,' then you can counteract Ahithophel's counsel for me. |
| 35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. | 35Won't Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report everything you hear from the king's palace to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. |
| 36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear. | 36Take note: their two sons, Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan, are there with them. Send me everything you hear through them." |
| 37So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem. | 37So Hushai, David's personal adviser, entered Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city. |
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