Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, was right there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with 200 loaves of bread, 100 clusters of raisins, 100 [bunches] of summer fruit, and a skin of wine.
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When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephib'osheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine.
2 The king said to Ziba, "Why do you have these?" Ziba answered, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who become exhausted to drink in the desert."
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And the king said to Ziba, "Why have you brought these?" Ziba answered, "The asses are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink."
3 "Where is your master's son?" the king asked. "Why, he's staying in Jerusalem," Ziba replied to the king, "for he said, 'Today, the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me.' "
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And the king said, "And where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Behold, he remains in Jerusalem; for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.'"
4 The king said to Ziba, "All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!" "I bow [before you]," Ziba said. "May you look favorably on me, my lord the king!"
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Then the king said to Ziba, "Behold, all that belonged to Mephib'osheth is now yours." And Ziba said, "I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king."
5 When King David got to Bahurim, a man belonging to the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he was yelling curses as he approached.
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When King David came to Bahu'rim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim'e-i, the son of Gera; and as he came he cursed continually.
6 He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David's right and left.
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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.
7 Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you worthless murderer!
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And Shim'e-i said as he cursed, "Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow!
8 The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you rule, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you're a murderer!"
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The LORD has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Ab'salom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood."
9 Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut his head off!"
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Then Abi'shai the son of Zeru'iah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
10 The king replied, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses [me] this way because the Lord told him, 'Curse David!' Therefore, who can say, 'Why did you do that?' "
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But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeru'iah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"
11 Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life-how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse [me]; the Lord has told him to.
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And David said to Abi'shai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him.
12 Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei's curses today."
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It may be that the LORD will look upon my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today."
13 So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed [David], and threw stones and dirt at him.
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So David and his men went on the road, while Shim'e-i went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him and flung dust.
14 Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so they rested there.
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And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.
15 Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him.
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Now Ab'salom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahith'ophel with him.
16 When David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
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And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Ab'salom, Hushai said to Ab'salom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17 "Is this your loyalty to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn't you go with your friend?"
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And Ab'salom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
18 "Not at all," Hushai answered Absalom. "I am on the side of the one that the Lord, the people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him.
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And Hushai said to Ab'salom, "No; for whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19 Furthermore, whom will I serve if not his son? As I served in your father's presence, I will also serve in yours."
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And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you."
20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give [me] your advice. What should we do?"
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Then Ab'salom said to Ahith'ophel, "Give your counsel; what shall we do?"
21 Ahithophel replied to Absalom, "Sleep with your father's concubines he left to take care of the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become repulsive to your father, everyone with you will be encouraged."
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Ahith'ophel said to Ab'salom, "Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened."
22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
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So they pitched a tent for Ab'salom upon the roof; and Ab'salom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23 Now the advice Ahithophel gave in those days was like someone asking about a word from God-such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel's advice.
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Now in those days the counsel which Ahith'ophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so was all the counsel of Ahith'ophel esteemed, both by David and by Ab'salom.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.