2 Samuel 15

1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

1After this, Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, along with fifty men to run ahead of him.

2And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.

2Absalom would get up early and stand by the road leading to the city gate. Whenever someone had a legal case to bring before the king, Absalom would call him over and ask, 'What city are you from?' The person would answer, 'Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.'

3And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.

3Then Absalom would say, 'Look, your claims are right and fair, but the king hasn't appointed anyone to listen to you.'

4Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

4Absalom would even say, 'If only I were made a judge in the land! Then anyone with a legal case could come to me, and I would give them justice.'

5And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.

5Whenever anyone approached him to bow down, Absalom would reach out his hand, grab him, and kiss him.

6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

6Absalom did this to everyone in Israel who came to the king for a judgment, and in this way, he stole the hearts of the people of Israel.

7And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.

7At the end of four years, Absalom said to the king, 'Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I made to the LORD.'

8For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.

8'While I was living at Geshur in Syria, your servant made this vow: If the LORD truly brings me back to Jerusalem, then I will worship the LORD.'

9And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.

9The king told him, 'Go in peace.' So he got up and went to Hebron.

10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.

10But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, 'As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, say, "Absalom is king in Hebron!"'

11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.

11Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom. They were invited guests who went along innocently, knowing nothing about his plan.

12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

12While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s advisor, from his hometown of Giloh. The conspiracy grew strong, and more and more people joined Absalom.

13And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

13A messenger came to David and said, 'The hearts of the men of Israel have turned to follow Absalom.'

14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

14Then David said to all his officials with him in Jerusalem, 'Come on, we must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom! We have to leave quickly before he catches up to us, brings disaster on us, and attacks the city with the sword.'

15And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.

15The king’s officials replied, 'Your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king decides.'

16And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.

16So the king set out, and his whole household followed him. But the king left ten concubines behind to take care of the palace.

17And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.

17The king left with all the people following him, and they stopped at the last house.

18And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

18All his men marched past him, including all the Cherethites and Pelethites. Also, all six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath marched past the king.

19Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; return to thine own place.

19The king said to Ittai the Gittite, 'Why are you coming with us? Go back and stay with the new king. You are a foreigner and an exile from your own land.'

20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.

20'You only arrived yesterday. Should I make you wander around with us today when I don't even know where I'm going? Go back and take your fellow countrymen with you. May the LORD be kind and faithful to you.'

21And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.

21But Ittai answered the king, 'As surely as the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is—whether it means life or death—that is where your servant will be.'

22And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.

22David said to Ittai, 'All right, go ahead and march on.' So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and all the families who were with him.

23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.

23The whole countryside wept loudly as all the people passed by. The king crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people marched toward the wilderness.

24And, lo, Zadok alsocame, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

24Zadok was there too, and all the Levites with him were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of God. They set down the Ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until everyone had finished leaving the city.

25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:

25Then the king told Zadok, 'Take the Ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD's eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again.'

26but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

26'But if he says, "I am not pleased with you," then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.'

27The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

27The king also said to Zadok the priest, 'Aren't you a seer? Go back to the city in peace with your two sons—your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar’s son Jonathan.'

28See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

28'Look, I will wait at the river crossings in the wilderness until I hear from you.'

29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.

29So Zadok and Abiathar took the Ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

30And David went up by the ascent of themount ofOlives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him also covered their heads and wept as they went up.

31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

31Someone told David, 'Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' Then David prayed, 'O LORD, please turn Ahithophel's advice into foolishness.'

32And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top of the ascent, where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.

32When David reached the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him. His coat was torn and there was dirt on his head.

33And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto me:

33David said to him, 'If you come with me, you will be a burden to me.'

34but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

34'But if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, "I will be your servant, O king; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant," then you can help me by frustrating Ahithophel’s advice.'

35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

35'Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king's palace.'

36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear.

36'Their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to tell me everything you hear.'

37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

37So Hushai, David’s friend, arrived at Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.