4
So the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king. She bowed facedown on the ground to show respect and said, "My king, help me!"
5
King David asked her, "What is the matter?" The woman said, "I am a widow; my husband is dead.
6
I had two sons. They were out in the field fighting, and no one was there to stop them. So one son killed the other son.
7
Now all the family group is against me. They said to me, 'Bring the son who killed his brother so we may kill him for killing his brother. That way we will also get rid of the one who would receive what belonged to his father.' My son is like the last spark of a fire. He is all I have left. If they kill him, my husband's name and property will be gone from the earth."
8
Then the king said to the woman, "Go home. I will take care of this for you."
9
The woman of Tekoa said to him, "Let the blame be on me and my father's family. My master and king, you and your throne are innocent."
10
King David said, "Bring me anyone who says anything bad to you. Then he won't bother you again."
11
The woman said, "Please promise in the name of the Lord your God. Then my relative who has the duty of punishing a murderer won't add to the destruction by killing my son." David said, "As surely as the Lord lives, no one will hurt your son. Not one hair from his head will fall to the ground."
12
The woman said, "Let me say something to you, my master and king." The king said, "Speak."
13
Then the woman said, "Why have you decided this way against the people of God? When you judge this way, you show that you are guilty for not bringing back your son who was forced to leave home.
14
We will all die some day. We're like water spilled on the ground; no one can gather it back. But God doesn't take away life. Instead, he plans ways that those who have been sent away will not have to stay away from him!