Ziba's gift
David had just passed the summit when Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him with two saddled donkeys. They were loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred portions of summer fruit and a skin of wine. The king asked Ziba, What's all this for? Ziba answered, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who becomes faint in the wilderness. The king asked, Where is your master's grandson? Ziba replied, He's staying in Jerusalem. He thinks the people of Israel will give his grandfather's kingdom back to him today. The king said to Ziba, In that case, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba bowed and said, May I always have your approval, my lord the king.
And when David had gone a bit past the top of the hill, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth meeting him, with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred bunches of raisins and a hundred of summer fruits and a skin of wine. And the king said to Ziba: What do you mean by these? And Ziba said: The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for the ones who go faint in the wilderness to drink. And the king said: And where's your master's son? And Ziba said to the king: Look — he stays at Jerusalem. Because he said: Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father. Then the king said to Ziba: Look — everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours. And Ziba said: I bow down. Let me find favour in your sight, my lord king.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine. And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink. And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father. Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
David had just passed the summit when Mephibosheth's servant Ziba met him with two saddled donkeys. They were loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred portions of summer fruit and a skin of wine.
And when David had gone a bit past the top of the hill, there was Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth meeting him, with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred bunches of raisins and a hundred of summer fruits and a skin of wine.
And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
The king asked Ziba, What's all this for? Ziba answered, The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who becomes faint in the wilderness.
And the king said to Ziba: What do you mean by these? And Ziba said: The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for the ones who go faint in the wilderness to drink.
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
The king asked, Where is your master's grandson? Ziba replied, He's staying in Jerusalem. He thinks the people of Israel will give his grandfather's kingdom back to him today.
And the king said: And where's your master's son? And Ziba said to the king: Look — he stays at Jerusalem. Because he said: Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.
And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
The king said to Ziba, In that case, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours. Ziba bowed and said, May I always have your approval, my lord the king.
Then the king said to Ziba: Look — everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is yours. And Ziba said: I bow down. Let me find favour in your sight, my lord king.
Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
Shimei's curses
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from Saul's clan came out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed David as he came. He hurled stones at David and all the king's officials, even though the troops and elite guards surrounded David on both sides. Shimei shouted as he cursed him, Get out! Get out, you blood-soaked mongrel! The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of Saul's house, whose throne you took. The Lord has handed the kingdom to your son Absalom. Now your own evil has caught up with you, because you're a man of blood. Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog be allowed to curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take his head off. But the king said, What am I going to do with you sons of Zeruiah? If he's cursing because the Lord told him, Curse David, who has the right to ask, Why are you doing this? David said to Abishai and all his servants, My own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more this Benjamite? Leave him alone. Let him curse, because perhaps the Lord has told him to. Maybe the Lord will see my misery and repay me with good for the curse I'm receiving today. So David and his men kept walking while Shimei went along the opposite hillside, cursing, throwing stones and kicking dust at them. The king and everyone with him eventually arrived exhausted, and there they stopped to catch their breath.
And when King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And this is what Shimei said as he cursed: Come out, come out, you bloody man and you man of wickedness. The Lord has brought back on you all the blood of the house of Saul, who you've ruled in his place. And the Lord has handed over the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And look — you're taken in your own wickedness, because you're a bloody man. Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king: Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now, please, and take off his head. And the king said: What have I got to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him: Curse David. So who'll say: Why have you done that? And David said to Abishai and to all his servants: Look — my son, who came out of my body, looks for my life. How much more now this Benjamite? Leave him alone and let him curse, because the Lord has ordered him. Maybe the Lord will look at my trouble, and the Lord will pay me back with good for his cursing today. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and threw dust. And the king and all the people with him came worn out and got their breath back there.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust. And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
As King David approached Bahurim, a man from Saul's clan came out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed David as he came.
And when King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
He hurled stones at David and all the king's officials, even though the troops and elite guards surrounded David on both sides.
And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
Shimei shouted as he cursed him, Get out! Get out, you blood-soaked mongrel!
And this is what Shimei said as he cursed: Come out, come out, you bloody man and you man of wickedness.
And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of Saul's house, whose throne you took. The Lord has handed the kingdom to your son Absalom. Now your own evil has caught up with you, because you're a man of blood.
The Lord has brought back on you all the blood of the house of Saul, who you've ruled in his place. And the Lord has handed over the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. And look — you're taken in your own wickedness, because you're a bloody man.
The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, Why should this dead dog be allowed to curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take his head off.
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king: Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over now, please, and take off his head.
Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
But the king said, What am I going to do with you sons of Zeruiah? If he's cursing because the Lord told him, Curse David, who has the right to ask, Why are you doing this?
And the king said: What have I got to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the Lord has said to him: Curse David. So who'll say: Why have you done that?
And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
David said to Abishai and all his servants, My own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more this Benjamite? Leave him alone. Let him curse, because perhaps the Lord has told him to.
And David said to Abishai and to all his servants: Look — my son, who came out of my body, looks for my life. How much more now this Benjamite? Leave him alone and let him curse, because the Lord has ordered him.
And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.
Maybe the Lord will see my misery and repay me with good for the curse I'm receiving today.
Maybe the Lord will look at my trouble, and the Lord will pay me back with good for his cursing today.
It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.
So David and his men kept walking while Shimei went along the opposite hillside, cursing, throwing stones and kicking dust at them.
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and threw dust.
And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
The king and everyone with him eventually arrived exhausted, and there they stopped to catch their breath.
And the king and all the people with him came worn out and got their breath back there.
And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
Ahithophel's counsel
Meanwhile Absalom entered Jerusalem with all the men of Israel, and Ahithophel was with him. When David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, he called out, Long live the king! Long live the king! Absalom said to Hushai, Is this how you show loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with him? Hushai answered, No. I'll belong to the man chosen by the Lord, by these people and by all the men of Israel. That's the man I'll stay with. Besides, who should I serve if not his son? Just as I served your father, I'll serve you. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give us your advice. What should we do next? Ahithophel told Absalom, Sleep with your father's concubines, the ones he left behind to look after the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you've made yourself utterly hateful to your father, and everyone with you will take courage. So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the palace roof, and in full view of all Israel he slept with his father's concubines. In those days Ahithophel's advice was regarded as though someone had asked God himself. That was how highly both David and Absalom valued his counsel.
And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And when Hushai the Arkite, David's mate, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom: God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai: Is this your kindness to your mate? Why didn't you go with your mate? And Hushai said to Absalom: No. But whoever the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, I'll be his, and I'll stay with him. And what's more, who should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in front of his son? The way I've served in front of your father, that's how I'll be in front of you. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel: Give your counsel among you what we should do. And Ahithophel said to Absalom: Go in to your father's women that he's left to keep the house. And all Israel will hear that you're a stink to your father. Then the hands of everyone with you will be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house. And Absalom went in to his father's women in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if a man had asked at the mouth of God. That's what all the counsel of Ahithophel was, both with David and with Absalom.
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence. Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong. So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.
Meanwhile Absalom entered Jerusalem with all the men of Israel, and Ahithophel was with him.
And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
When David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, he called out, Long live the king! Long live the king!
And when Hushai the Arkite, David's mate, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom: God save the king, God save the king.
And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
Absalom said to Hushai, Is this how you show loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with him?
And Absalom said to Hushai: Is this your kindness to your mate? Why didn't you go with your mate?
And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
Hushai answered, No. I'll belong to the man chosen by the Lord, by these people and by all the men of Israel. That's the man I'll stay with.
And Hushai said to Absalom: No. But whoever the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, I'll be his, and I'll stay with him.
And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
Besides, who should I serve if not his son? Just as I served your father, I'll serve you.
And what's more, who should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in front of his son? The way I've served in front of your father, that's how I'll be in front of you.
And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give us your advice. What should we do next?
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel: Give your counsel among you what we should do.
Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
Ahithophel told Absalom, Sleep with your father's concubines, the ones he left behind to look after the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you've made yourself utterly hateful to your father, and everyone with you will take courage.
And Ahithophel said to Absalom: Go in to your father's women that he's left to keep the house. And all Israel will hear that you're a stink to your father. Then the hands of everyone with you will be strong.
And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the palace roof, and in full view of all Israel he slept with his father's concubines.
So they spread Absalom a tent on the top of the house. And Absalom went in to his father's women in the sight of all Israel.
So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
In those days Ahithophel's advice was regarded as though someone had asked God himself. That was how highly both David and Absalom valued his counsel.
And the counsel of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if a man had asked at the mouth of God. That's what all the counsel of Ahithophel was, both with David and with Absalom.
And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.