2 Samuel 13

1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

1Some time later, this happened: David’s son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David’s other son, Amnon, fell in love with her.

2And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto her.

2Amnon was so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself sick with frustration. Since she was a virgin, it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

3But Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very clever and crafty man.

4And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

4He asked Amnon, 'Why do you, the king’s son, look so worn out day after day? Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?' Amnon replied, 'I am in love with Tamar, the sister of my brother Absalom.'

5And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.

5Jonadab told him, 'Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, say to him, "Please let my sister Tamar come and give me some food. Let her prepare it here while I watch, so I can eat it from her hand."'

6So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.

6So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When King David came to see him, Amnon said, 'Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes while I watch, so I can eat from her hand.'

7Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him food.

7David sent a message to Tamar at the palace, saying, 'Go to your brother Amnon’s house and prepare some food for him.'

8So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

8Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house, and he was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes while he watched, and baked them.

9And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

9Then she took the pan and served them to him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, 'Send everyone out of here.' So everyone left.

10And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

10Amnon said to Tamar, 'Bring the food into my bedroom so I can eat from your hand.' Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them to her brother Amnon in his bedroom.

11And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.

11But when she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, 'Come, lie down with me, my sister!'

12And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

12'No, my brother!' she said to him. 'Don't force me! Such a shameful thing should never be done in Israel. Don't do this wicked thing!

13And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wilt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

13Where could I go to get rid of my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the most disgraceful fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king; he won't refuse to let you marry me.'

14Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.

14But he refused to listen to her. Since he was stronger than she was, he overpowered her, raped her, and lay with her.

15Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

15Then Amnon suddenly hated her with an intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had ever loved her. Amnon said to her, 'Get up and get out!'

16And she said unto him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is worse than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

16'No!' she said. 'Sending me away like this is an even greater wrong than what you just did to me!' But he still refused to listen to her.

17Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

17He called his personal servant and said, 'Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door behind her!'

18And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

18She was wearing a long robe with many colors, which was the kind of clothing the king’s virgin daughters wore. So the servant took her out and bolted the door behind her.

19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.

19Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the many-colored robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and walked away, crying out loudly as she went.

20And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; take not this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

20Her brother Absalom said to her, 'Has your brother Amnon been with you? Keep quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother. Don't let this upset you too much.' So Tamar lived as a lonely and broken woman in her brother Absalom’s house.

21But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

21When King David heard about all of this, he was absolutely furious.

22And Absalom spake unto Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

22Absalom did not say a single word to Amnon, neither good nor bad. He hated Amnon because he had raped his sister Tamar.

23And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

23Two full years later, Absalom had sheep-shearers at Baal-hazor, near the border of Ephraim, and he invited all the king’s sons to a feast.

24And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

24Absalom went to the king and said, 'Look, your servant is having sheep-shearers. Please, would the king and his officials join me?'

25And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

25The king replied to Absalom, 'No, my son, we shouldn't all go, or we would be too much of a burden for you.' Even though Absalom kept pleading, David wouldn't go, but he gave him his blessing.

26Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

26Absalom said, 'If you won't come, then please let my brother Amnon go with us.' The king asked him, 'Why should he go with you?'

27But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

27But Absalom kept urging him, until David finally let Amnon and all the rest of the king’s sons go with him.

28And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

28Absalom ordered his servants, 'Watch Amnon. When he is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, "Strike Amnon down," then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven't I given you the order? Be brave and be bold.'

29And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

29Absalom’s servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had commanded. Then all the other sons of the king got up, jumped on their mules, and fled.

30And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.

30While they were still on their way, a report reached David: 'Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!'

31Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

31The king stood up, tore his clothes, and collapsed on the ground. All his servants stood nearby with their clothes torn as well.

32And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

32But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said, 'My lord shouldn't think that all the young men are dead. Only Amnon is dead. Absalom has been planning this since the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.

33Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.

33So the king shouldn't worry and think that all his sons are dead. Only Amnon is dead.'

34But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.

34Meanwhile, Absalom fled. Then the guard on watch looked up and saw many people coming down the road from the hillside behind him.

35And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons are come: as thy servant said, so it is.

35Jonadab said to the king, 'Look, the king’s sons are here! It happened just as I told you.'

36And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

36As soon as he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived. They began to cry loudly, and the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.

37But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

37Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihur, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son Amnon every day.

38So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

38After Absalom fled to Geshur, he stayed there for three years.

39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

39Eventually, King David’s heart longed to see Absalom, for he had finally found comfort after the death of Amnon.