2 Samuel 15

1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.

After this, Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, and fifty men to run before him.

2 And Absalom rose early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was [so], that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city [art] thou? And he said, Thy servant [is] one of the tribes of Israel.

Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgement, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

3 And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters [are] good and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] by the king to hear thee.

Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”

4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!

Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”

5 And it was [so], that when any man came nigh [to him] to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

It was so, that when any man came near to bow down to him, he stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and kissed him.

6 And in this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgement. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said to the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

At the end of forty years, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the LORD, in Hebron.

8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.

For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If the LORD shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.’”

9 And the king said to him, Go in peace, So he arose, and went to Hebron.

The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron.

10 But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the shofar, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”

11 And with Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, [that were] called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.

Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.

12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city, [even] from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.

13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”

14 And David said to all his servants that [were] with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not [else] escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he should overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise! Let’s flee, or else none of us will escape from Absalom. Hurry to depart, lest he overtake us quickly and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

15 And the king's servants said to the king, Behold, thy servants [are ready to do] whatever my lord the king shall appoint.

The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”

16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women [who were] concubines to keep the house.

The king went out, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.

17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.

The king went out, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.

18 And all his servants passed on by his side; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.

19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Why goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king; for thou [art] a stranger, and also an exile.

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner and also an exile. Return to your own place.

20 Whereas thou camest [but] yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may; return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth [be] with thee.

Whereas you came but yesterday, should I today make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, [As] the LORD liveth, and [as] my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king is, whether for death or for life, your servant will be there also.”

22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that [were] with him.

David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.

23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, towards the way of the wilderness.

All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over. The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over towards the way of the wilderness.

24 And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites [were] with him bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down God’s ark; and Abiathar went up until all the people finished passing out of the city.

25 And the king said to Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and show me [both] it, and his habitation:

The king said to Zadok, “Carry God’s ark back into the city. If I find favour in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me again, and show me both it and his habitation;

26 But if he shall thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, [here am] I, let him do to me as seemeth good to him.

but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you,’ behold, here I am. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”

27 The king said also to Zadok the priest, [Art not] thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until word shall come from you to certify me.

Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.”

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried God’s ark to Jerusalem again; and they stayed there.

30 And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept as he went, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that [were] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went.

David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

31 And [one] told David, saying, Ahithophel [is] among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is amongst the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

32 And it came to pass, that [when] David had come to the top [of the mount], where he worshiped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head;

When David had come to the top, where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his tunic torn and earth on his head.

33 To whom David said, If thou shalt pass on with me, then thou wilt be a burden to me:

David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;

34 But if thou shalt return to the city, and say to Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; [as] I [have been] thy father's servant hitherto, so [will] I now also [be] thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’

35 And [hast thou] not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, [that] whatever thing thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell [it] to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore whatever you hear out of the king’s house, tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36 Behold, [they have] there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's [son], and Jonathan Abiathar's [son]; and by them ye shall send to me every thing that ye can hear.

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son. Send to me everything that you shall hear by them.”

37 So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.