1 W hen David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and upon them 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, and one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 T he king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become faint in the wilderness.

The king said to Ziba, “What do you mean by these?” Ziba said, “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, that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink.”

3 T he 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.

The king said, “Where is your master’s son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem; for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father.’”

4 T hen the king said to Ziba, Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord O king.

Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” Ziba said, “I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king.”

5 W hen King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul, Shimei son of Gera, came out and cursed continually as he came.

When king David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He came out and cursed as he came.

6 A nd he cast 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.

He cast 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 S himei said as he cursed, Get out, get out, you man of blood, you base fellow!

Shimei said when he cursed, “Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow!

8 T he Lord has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. Behold, the calamity is upon you because you are a bloody man!

Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house, in whose place you have reigned! Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son! Behold, you are caught by your own mischief, because you are a man of blood!”

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

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.”

10 T he king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, Curse David, who then shall ask, Why have you done so?

The king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because Yahweh has said to him, ‘Curse David;’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 A nd David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who was born to me, seeks my life. With how much more reason now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone; and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him to do it.

David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, “Behold, my son, who came out of my bowels, seeks my life. How much more this Benjamite, now? Leave him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has invited him.

12 I t may be that the Lord will look on the iniquity done me and will recompense me with good for his cursing this day.

It may be that Yahweh will look on the wrong done to me, and that Yahweh will repay me good for the cursing of me today.”

13 S o David and his men went by the road, and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.

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 him, and threw dust.

14 A nd the king and all the people who were with him came weary, and he refreshed himself there.

The king, and all the people who were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.

15 A nd Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

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

16 A nd when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to, Long live the king! Long live the king!

When Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 A bsalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness and loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?

Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

18 H ushai said to Absalom, No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him I will remain.

Hushai said to Absalom, “No; but whomever Yahweh, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him I will stay.

19 A nd again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so will I serve you.

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.”

20 T hen Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your counsel. What shall we do?

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel what we shall do.”

21 A nd Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made strong.

Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father’s concubines that he has left to keep the house. Then all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong.”

22 S o they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s harem in the sight of all Israel.

So they spread a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23 A nd the counsel of Ahithophel in those days was as if a man had consulted the word of God; so was all Ahithophel’s counsel considered both by David and by Absalom.

The counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the inner sanctuary of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.