2 Samuel 3 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Samuel 3 ▼
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1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker. There 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. The 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.
2 Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite. And sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel; Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;
3 His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. and 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; his 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;
4 His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail. and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5 His sixth son was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron. and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron. and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
6 As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had been strengthening his own position in the house of Saul.
7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, |Why did you have sexual relations with my father's concubine?| Now 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?” Now 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?”
8 These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, |Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today! Then 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. Abner 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!
9 God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised him, God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD promised him on oath
10 namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!| to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.”
11 Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him. And Ish-bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. Ish-Bosheth did not dare to say another word to Abner, because he was afraid of him.
12 Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, |To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you.| And 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.” Then 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.”
13 So David said, |Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to visit me.| And 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.” “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.”
14 David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: |Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins.| Then 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.” Then 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.”
15 So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. And Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish.
16 Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, |Go back!| So he returned home. But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned. Her 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.
17 Abner advised the elders of Israel, |Previously you were wanting David to be your king. And Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, saying, “For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you. Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king.
18 Act now! For the LORD has said to David, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.'| Now 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.’” Now 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.’”
19 Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to. Abner 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. Abner 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.
20 When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him. When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him. When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men.
21 Abner said to David, |Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.| So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace. And 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. Then 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.
22 Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. Just 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. Just 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.
23 When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: |Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!| When 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.” When 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.
24 So Joab went to the king and said, |What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he's gone on his way! Then 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? So 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!
25 You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!| You 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.” You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.”
26 Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.) When 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. Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it.
27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel. And 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. Now 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.
28 When David later heard about this, he said, |I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner! Afterward, 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. Later, 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.
29 May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab's house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!| May 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!” May 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.”
30 So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle. So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon. (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)
31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, |Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!| Now King David followed behind the funeral bier. Then 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. Then 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.
32 So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too. They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
33 The king chanted the following lament for Abner: |Should Abner have died like a fool? And the king lamented for Abner, saying, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? The king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
34 Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals.| All the people wept over him again. Your 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. Your 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.
35 Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, |God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!| Then 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!” Then 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!”
36 All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them.
37 All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king's instigation. So 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. So 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.
38 Then the king said to his servants, |Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the LORD punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!| And 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!” And 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!”
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