2 Samuel 19:1-13
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 19
1Then it was reported to Joab, 'Behold, the king is weeping and he mourns for Absalom.' 2So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, because the people heard it said that day, 'The king is in mourning over his son.' 3And the people entered the city surreptitiously that day, just as people who are humiliated surreptitiously flee in battle. 4And the king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, 'My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!' 5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, 'Today you have shamed all your servants, who have saved your life today and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have revealed today that commanders and servants are nothing to you; for I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then it would be right as far as you are concerned. 7Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, no man will stay the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the misfortune that has happened to you from your youth until now!'
8So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, 'Behold, the king is sitting at the gate,' then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent.
9And all the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, 'The king rescued us from the hands of our enemies and saved us from the hands of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
10However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?'
11Then King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, 'Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house?
12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more so, if you will not be commander of the army for me continually, in place of Joab.’?'
King James Version
Chapter 19
1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. 2And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son. 3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
5And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
6In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 19
1It was reported to Joab, "The king is weeping. He’s mourning over Absalom." 2That day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the troops because on that day the troops heard, "The king is grieving over his son." 3So they returned to the city quietly that day like troops come in when they are humiliated after fleeing in battle. 4But the king covered his face and cried loudly, "My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"
5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have shamed all your soldiers—those who saved your life as well as your sons, your wives, and your concubines—
6by loving your enemies and hating those who love you! Today you have made it clear that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. In fact, today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would be fine with you!
8So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told: "Look, the king is sitting in the city gate." Then they all came into the king’s presence. Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.
9People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies, and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?"
11King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house.
12You are my brothers, my flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’
13And tell Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don’t become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab!’"
New Living Translation
Chapter 19
1Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. 3They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. 4The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, 'O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!'
5Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, 'We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves.
6You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased.
7Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.'
8So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.
9And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, 'The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country.
10Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?'
11Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, 'Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready.
12You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?'
13And David told them to tell Amasa, 'Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 19
1It was told Joab, "Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." 2So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, "The king is grieving for his son." 3And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, "O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!" 5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now." 8Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, "Behold, the king is sitting in the gate." And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home.
9And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
11And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: "Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king?
12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’"
New International Version
Chapter 19
1Joab was told, "The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." 2And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, "The king is grieving for his son." 3The men stole into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. 4The king covered his face and cried aloud, "O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!"
5Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, "Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines.
6You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased if Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead.
7Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come on you from your youth till now."
9Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom;
10and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"
11King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: "Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
12You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.’ "
New King James Version
Chapter 19
1And Joab was told, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people. For the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3And the people stole back into the city that day, as people who are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle. 4But the king covered his face, and the king cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,
6in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.
7Now therefore, arise, go out and speak comfort to your servants. For I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, not one will stay with you this night. And that will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now.”
9Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
11So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?
12You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘ Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ”
