2 Samuel 16

1 Now when David was a little past the top, look, Ziba the servant of Mippibaal met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a container of wine.

When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

2 And the king said to Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" And Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert."

“Why do you have these?” asked the king. Ziba replied, “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 to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

3 Then the king said, "Where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Look, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the children of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.'"

“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”

4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Look, all that pertains to Mippibaal is yours." Ziba said, "I humbly bow. May I find favor in the sight of my lord the king."

So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”

5 And when king David reached Bahurim, now look, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera. He came out and cursed continuously as he approached.

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses.

6 And he threw stones at David and at all his servants, and all the people and all the soldiers at his right hand and at his left.

He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left.

7 And Shimei said as he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, and worthless man.

And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed!

8 YHWH has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and YHWH has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And look, your evil is upon you, because you are a man of bloodshed."

The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

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 off his head!”

10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because YHWH has said to him, 'Curse David;' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son who came from my body seeks my life. So also now this Benjamite. Leave him alone and let him curse, for YHWH has told him to.

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.

12 Perhaps YHWH will look on my affliction and return good to me for his cursing today."

Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”

13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw stones at his flank, and threw dirt.

So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David.

14 Now the king and all his people arrived weary at the Jordan, and he refreshed himself there.

Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

15 Now Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

16 And it came about when David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king. Long live the king."

And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom YHWH and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I belong, and with him I will stay.

“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain.

19 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."

Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What should we do?"

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's secondary wives, that he has left to care for the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father. Then those on your side will be motivated to support you."

Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.”

22 So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's secondary wives in the sight of all Israel.

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

23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one inquired of the word of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel both to David and to Absalom.

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.