2 Samuel 19

And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

1Someone told Joab, "The king is crying. He is very sad about Absalom."

2And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.

2The army had won the battle that day. But everyone felt sad instead of glad. They heard that the king was grieving for his son.

3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.

3The soldiers crept quietly into the city that day. They acted ashamed, like men who run away from a fight.

4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

4But the king covered his face. He cried out loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

5And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;

5Joab came into the house to the king. He said, "Today you shamed all the men who serve you. They saved your life today. They saved your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your other wives.

NoteA concubine was a wife who had a lower place in the family than a full wife.

6In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.

6You love the people who hate you. You hate the people who love you. Today you showed that your leaders and soldiers mean nothing to you. Now I see it. If Absalom were alive and all of us dead, you would be glad.

7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.

7So get up now. Go outside and speak kindly to your men. I promise before the LORD, if you stay inside, not one man will be with you tonight. That would be worse for you than every bad thing since you were young."

8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

8So the king got up and sat in the city gate. People told everyone, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then all the people came to him. The soldiers who had followed Absalom had run home.

9And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

9All through the tribes of Israel people argued with each other. They said, "The king saved us from our enemies. He saved us from the Philistines. Now he has run out of the land because of Absalom.

10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?

10And Absalom, the man we made king by pouring oil on him, died in the battle. So why is nobody talking about bringing David back?"

11And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.

11King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests who served God for the people. He said, "Ask the leaders of Judah this. Why are you the last to bring the king home? All Israel is already talking about it.

12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?

12You are my brothers. You are my own family. So why are you the last to bring the king back?"

13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.

13"And tell Amasa this: You are my own family too. May God punish me if I do not make you leader of my army from now on, in place of Joab."

14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.

14David won over the hearts of all the men of Judah. They all agreed as if they were one man. They sent word to the king, "Come back, you and all your men."

15So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.

15So the king started home and came to the Jordan River. The men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him. They would help him cross the river.

16And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.

16Shimei son of Gera hurried down with the men of Judah. He was from Bahurim, from the tribe of Benjamin. He came to meet King David.

17And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.

17A thousand men of Benjamin came with him. So did Ziba, who ran Saul's household. Ziba brought his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurried down to the Jordan ahead of the king.

18And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;

18They crossed at the shallow place to carry the king's family over. They wanted to do whatever pleased him. When Shimei crossed the Jordan, he bowed low before the king.

NoteThe King James Bible says "ferry boat" here. The word means the shallow place in the river where people could cross.

19And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

19He said, "My king, please do not count me guilty. Please forget the wrong I did to you. I did it the day you left Jerusalem. Please do not hold it against me.

20For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.

20I know that I did wrong. So today I am the first of all the northern families of Israel to come and meet you."

21But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?

21But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, "Shouldn't Shimei die for this? He cursed the king that God chose."

22And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?

22David said, "Sons of Zeruiah, why are you against me today? No one will be put to death in Israel today. Today I know that I am king over Israel."

23Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.

23So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." And the king made him a promise.

24And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.

24Then Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet since the king left. He had not trimmed his beard or washed his clothes. He waited until the king came home safely.

25And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?

25He came from Jerusalem to meet the king. The king asked him, "Mephibosheth, why did you not come with me?"

26And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.

26He answered, "My king, my legs do not work. I said, 'Saddle my donkey so I can ride and go with the king.' But my servant tricked me.

27And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

27He told lies about me to you, my king. But you are wise, like an angel of God. So do what seems right to you.

28For all of my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

28My grandfather's whole family deserved death from you. Yet you let me eat at your own table. So what more can I ask you for?"

29And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.

29The king said to him, "You do not need to say more. I have decided. You and Ziba will split the land."

30And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.

30Mephibosheth said to the king, "Let Ziba take it all. You have come home safely, and that is enough for me."

31And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.

31Barzillai from Gilead came down from his town, Rogelim. He went with the king to the Jordan to send him on his way.

32Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.

32Barzillai was very old, eighty years old. He was a very rich man. He had given the king food while David stayed at Mahanaim.

33And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.

33The king said to Barzillai, "Come across with me. I will take care of you in Jerusalem."

34And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?

34Barzillai said to the king, "How many years do I have left? Why should I go up to Jerusalem with you?

35I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

35I am eighty years old today. Can I still tell what is good and what is not? Can I even taste my food or drink? Can I still hear men and women singing? Why should I be a heavy load for my king?

36Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?

36I will only go a little way past the Jordan with you. Why should the king pay me back with such a big reward?

37Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.

37Please let me go back home. I want to die in my own town. I want to be buried near my father and mother. But here is Chimham, who serves me. Let him go across with you. Do for him whatever seems good to you."

38And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.

38The king answered, "Chimham will come across with me. I will do for him whatever you want. And I will do anything you ask of me."

39And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.

39All the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai went back home.

40Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.

40The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went with him. All the men of Judah walked with the king. Half the men of Israel came too.

41And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?

41Then all the men of Israel came to the king. They said, "Why did our brothers from Judah take you away so quietly? They brought you and your family and your men across the Jordan."

42And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s cost? or hath he given us any gift?

42The men of Judah answered them, "We did it because the king is our close relative. Why are you angry about this? We have not eaten any of his food. He has not given us any gifts."

43And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

43The men of Israel answered, "We have ten shares in the king. We have more claim on David than you do. So why did you look down on us? We spoke first about bringing our king back." But the men of Judah spoke back even harder than the men of Israel.

Note"Ten parts in the king" means ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. They were saying most of the country belonged with them.