2 Samuel 16

1And when David was a little past the top of the ascent, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

1When David had gone a little way past the summit of the hill, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him. He had two saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred cakes of summer fruit, and a skin of wine.

2And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are 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 are faint in the wilderness may drink.

2The king asked Ziba, 'Why have you brought these?' Ziba replied, 'The donkeys are for the king’s family to ride, the bread and fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who grow weak in the wilderness to drink.'

3And 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 will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.

3The king then asked, 'And where is your master’s son?' Ziba told the king, 'He is staying in Jerusalem because he said, "Today the people of Israel will give me back my father’s kingdom."'

4Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.

4Then the king said to Ziba, 'In that case, everything that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.' Ziba replied, 'I bow before you; may I always find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.'

5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.

5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same family group as Saul’s family came out. His name was Shimei, son of Gera, and he cursed David as he came.

6And 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.

6He threw stones at David and at all the king’s officials, even though all the people and the elite warriors were surrounding the king on his right and left.

7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow:

7As he cursed, Shimei shouted, 'Get out! Get out, you man of blood, you worthless man!'

8Jehovah hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art taken in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood.

8'The LORD has paid you back for all the blood you shed in the family of Saul, whose throne you took. The LORD has given the kingdom to your son Absalom. You are ruined because you are a murderer!'

9Then 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.

9Then 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 there and cut off his head!'

10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

10But the king said, 'What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD told him, "Curse David," who can ask him, "Why are you doing this?"'

11And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more may this Benjamite now do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath bidden him.

11David said to Abishai and all his officials, 'Look, my own son, who came from my own body, is trying to kill me. How much more should we expect this from a man of the tribe of Benjamin? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to do it.'

12It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done unto me, and that Jehovah will requite me good for his cursing of me this day.

12'Perhaps the LORD will see my suffering and reward me with good things because of the curses I am hearing today.'

13So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.

13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei kept pace with them on the hillside opposite David. Shimei cursed, threw stones at him, and tossed dirt into the air.

14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

14The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted, and they rested there.

15And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

16And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, Long live the king, Long live the king.

16When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, he shouted, 'Long live the king! Long live the king!'

17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?

17Absalom asked Hushai, 'Is this how you show loyalty to your friend? Why didn’t you go with him?'

18And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom Jehovah, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

18Hushai replied, 'No, I will be on the side of the one chosen by the LORD, by these people, and by all the men of Israel. I will stay with him.'

19And 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.

19'Besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve the son? Just as I served your father, I will now serve you.'

20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.

20Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, 'Give us your advice. What should we do?'

21And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, that he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then will the hands of all that are with thee be strong.

21Ahithophel told Absalom, 'Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to look after the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have become a stench to your father, and everyone on your side will be encouraged.'

22So 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.

22So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof of the palace, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.

23In those days, Ahithophel’s advice was respected as much as if someone had asked for a word from God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.