The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 When David had gone a little past the summit, there was Tziva, the servant of M'fivoshet, who met him with a pair of donkeys saddled and on them 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 pieces of summer fruit and a skin of wine.
1
When David had gone over the top [of the Mount of Olives], Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys. They were loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 pieces of ripened fruit, and a full wineskin.
2 The king said to Tziva, "What do you mean by these?" Tziva replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on; the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat; and the wine is for those who collapse in the desert to drink."
2
"Why did you bring these?" David asked Ziba. "The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on," Ziba answered. "The bread and the ripe fruit are for [your] servants to eat. The wine is for those who become tired and thirsty in the desert."
3 The king asked, "Where is your master's [grand]son?"Tziva answered the king, "He's staying in Yerushalayim, because he said, 'Today the house of Isra'el will restore my father's kingship to me.'"
3
"Where is your master Saul's grandson?" the king asked. "He's staying in Jerusalem," Ziba answered the king. "He said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'"
4 The king said to Tziva, "Everything that belongs to M'fivoshet is now yours." Tziva answered, "I bow down before you; may I find favor in your sight, my lord, king."
4
The king told Ziba, "In that case everything that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you." "I sincerely thank you," said Ziba. "I hope to remain in your good graces, Your Majesty."
5 When King David arrived at Bachurim, there came out from there a man from Sha'ul's family named Shim'i the son of Gera; and he came out pronouncing curses
5
When King David came to Bahurim, a man who was a distant cousin of Saul came out cursing. His name was Shimei, son of Gera.
6 and throwing stones at David and all King David's servants; even though all the people, including his bodyguard, surrounded him right and left.
6
He threw stones at David and David's servants, although all the people and all the warriors were shielding David.
7 When Shim'i cursed, he said, "Get out of here! Get out of here, you killer, you good-for-nothing!
7
Shimei cursed and said, "Get out! Get out, you bloodthirsty man! You worthless person!
8 ADONAI has brought back on you all the blood of the house of Sha'ul. You usurped his kingship, but ADONAI has handed over the kingdom to Avshalom your son. Now your own evil has overtaken you, because you are a man of blood!"
8
The LORD is paying you back for all the blood you spilled in the family of Saul, whom you succeeded as king. The LORD is giving the kingship to your son Absalom. Now you're in trouble because you're a bloodthirsty man."
9 Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah said to the king, "Why allow this dead dog to curse my lord the king? Just let me go over and remove his head!"
9
Abishai, Zeruiah's son, asked the king, "Why should this dead dog curse you, Your Majesty? Let me go over there and tear off his head."
10 The king said, "Do you sons of Tz'ruyah and I have anything in common? Let him curse. If ADONAI tells him, 'Curse David,' who has the right to ask, 'Why are you doing it?'"
10
But the king said, "You don't think like me at all, sons of Zeruiah. Let him curse. If the LORD has told him, 'Curse David,' should anyone ask, 'Why do you do that?'"
11 David then said to Avishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, who came from my own body, seeks my life. So how much more now this Binyamini! Let him alone; and let him curse, if ADONAI told him to.
11
David told Abishai and all his servants, "My own son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. Why, then, shouldn't this Benjaminite do this? Leave him alone. Let him curse, since the LORD has told him to do it.
12 Maybe ADONAI will notice how I'm treating him, and ADONAI will reward me with good instead of his curses."
12
Maybe the LORD will see my misery and turn his curse into a blessing for me today."
13 So David and his men went on their way, while on the opposite hillside Shim'i kept pace with him, cursing, throwing stones and flinging dust as he went.
13
As David and his men went along the road, Shimei was walking along the hillside parallel to him. Shimei cursed, hurled stones, and threw dirt at David.
14 The king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so he rested there.
14
The king and all the people with him finally arrived [at their destination] and rested there.
15 Meanwhile Avshalom and all the people, the men of Isra'el, came to Yerushalayim; Achitofel was with him.
15
Meanwhile, Absalom and all Israel's troops came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16 Hushai the Arki, David's friend, came to Avshalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
16
When David's friend Hushai from Archi's family came to Absalom, he said, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17 Avshalom asked Hushai, "Is this how you show kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?"
17
"Is that how loyal you are to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn't you go with him?"
18 Hushai replied, "No, but whomever ADONAI and this people and all the men of Isra'el choose, his I will be; and with him I will stay.
18
Hushai answered Absalom, "No, I want to be with the one whom the LORD, these people, and all Israel have chosen. I will be his [friend] and stay with him.
19 Moreover, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."
19
And besides, whom should I serve? Shouldn't it be his son? As I served your father, so I'll serve you."
20 Avshalom said to Achitofel, "Give your advice as to what we should do."
20
Then Absalom asked Ahithophel, "What's your advice? What should we do?"
21 Achitofel answered Avshalom, "Go in, and sleep with your father's concubines, the ones he left to take care of the palace. All Isra'el will hear that your father utterly despises you, and this will strengthen the position of all those who are on your side."
21
Ahithophel told Absalom, "Sleep with your father's concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear about how you have made your father despise you. Everyone who is with you will support you even more."
22 So they set up a tent for Avshalom on the roof of the palace; and Avshalom went in to sleep with his father's concubines in the sight of all Isra'el.
22
So a tent was put up on the roof for Absalom, and he slept with his father's concubines in plain sight of Israel.
23 In those days Achitofel's advice was regarded as highly as if someone had sought out the word of God; it was this way with Achitofel's advice both to David and to Avshalom.
23
In those days both David and Absalom thought that Ahithophel's advice was like getting an answer from God.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.