| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a container of wine. | 1When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. |
| 2The king asked Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the loaves of bread and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert." | 2“Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “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 to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” |
| 3The king asked, "Where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather's kingdom.'" | 3“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’ ” |
| 4The king said to Ziba, "Everything that was Mephibosheth's now belongs to you." Ziba replied, "I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king." | 4So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!” |
| 5Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul's extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached. | 5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. |
| 6He threw stones at David and all of King David's servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left. | 6He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left. |
| 7As he yelled curses, Shimei said, "Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man! | 7And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! |
| 8The LORD has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!" | 8The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!” |
| 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 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 off his head!” |
| 10But the king said, "What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David!', who can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'" | 10But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’ ” |
| 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the LORD has spoken to him. | 11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so. |
| 12Perhaps the LORD will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse." | 12Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.” |
| 13So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them. | 13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David. |
| 14The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself. | 14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself. |
| 15Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him. | 15Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. |
| 16When David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!" | 16And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” |
| 17Absalom said to Hushai, "Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?" | 17“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” |
| 18Hushai replied to Absalom, "No, I will be loyal to the one whom the LORD, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. | 18“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. |
| 19Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you." | 19Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.” |
| 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice. What should we do?" | 20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?” |
| 21Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Have sex with your father's concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you." | 21Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” |
| 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father's concubines in the sight 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. |
| 23In those days Ahithophel's advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel. | 23Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice. |
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