2 Samuel 11
Bible in Basic English
1Now in the spring, at the time when kings go out to war, David sent Joab and his servants and all Israel with him; and they made waste the land of the children of Ammon, and took up their position before Rabbah, shutting it in. But David was still at Jerusalem.
2Now one evening, David got up from his bed, and while he was walking on the roof of the king's house, he saw from there a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.
3And David sent to get knowledge who the woman was. And one said, Is this not Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4And David sent and took her; and she came to him, and he took her to his bed: (for she had been made clean;) then she went back to her house.
5And the woman became with child; and she sent word to David that she was with child.
6And David sent to Joab saying, Send Uriah the Hittite to me. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7And when Uriah came to him, David put questions to him about how Joab and the people were, and how the war was going.
8And David said to Uriah, Go down to your house and let your feet be washed. And Uriah went away from the king's house, and an offering from the king was sent after him.
9But Uriah took his rest at the door of the king's house, with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10And when word was given to David that Uriah had not gone down to his house, David said to Uriah, Have you not come from a journey? why did you not go down to your house?
11And Uriah said to David, Israel and Judah with the ark are living in tents, and my lord Joab and the other servants of my lord are sleeping in the open field; and am I to go to my house and take food and drink, and go to bed with my wife? By the living Lord, and by the life of your soul, I will not do such a thing.
12And David said to Uriah, Be here today, and after that I will let you go. So Uriah was in Jerusalem that day and the day after.
13And when David sent for him, he took meat and drink with him, and David made him the worse for drink: and when evening came, he went to rest on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14Now in the morning, David gave Uriah a letter to take to Joab.
15And in the letter he said, Take care to put Uriah in the very front of the line, where the fighting is most violent, and go back from him, so that he may be overcome and put to death.
16So while Joab was watching the town, he put Uriah in the place where it was clear to him the best fighters were.
17And the men of the town went out and had a fight with Joab: and a number of David's men came to their death in the fight, and with them Uriah the Hittite.
18Then Joab sent David news of everything which had taken place in the war:
19And he gave orders to the man who took the news, saying, After you have given the king all the news about the war,
20If the king is angry and says, Why did you go so near the town for the fight? was it not certain that their archers would be on the wall?
21Who put Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, to death? did not a woman send a great stone down on him from the wall, putting him to death at Thebez? why did you go so near the wall? Then say to him, Your servant Uriah the Hittite is among the dead.
22So the man went, and came to David, and gave him all the news which Joab had sent him to give; then David was angry with Joab and said, Why did you go so near the town for the fight? was it not certain that their archers would be on the wall? who put Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, to death? did not a woman send a great stone down on him from the wall, putting him to death at Thebez? why did you go so near the wall?
23And the man said to David, Truly the men got the better of us, and came out against us into the open country, but we sent them back to the very doors of the town.
24And the archers sent their arrows at your servants from the wall, and some of the king's servants are dead, and among them is your servant Uriah the Hittite.
25Then David said to the man, Go and say to Joab, Do not let this be a grief to you; for one man may come to his death by the sword like another: put up an even stronger fight against the town, and take it: and do you put heart into him.
26And when the wife of Uriah had news that her husband was dead, she gave herself up to weeping for him.
27And when the days of weeping were past, David sent for her, and took her into his house, and she became his wife and gave him a son. But the Lord was not pleased with the thing David had done.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y ACONTECIÓ á la vuelta de un año, en el tiempo que salen los reyes á la guerra, que David envió á Joab, y á sus siervos con él, y á todo Israel; y destruyeron á los Ammonitas, y pusieron cerco á Rabba: mas David se quedó en Jerusalem.
2Y acaeció que levantándose David de su cama á la hora de la tarde, paseábase por el terrado de la casa real, cuando vió desde el terrado una mujer que se estaba lavando, la cual era muy hermosa.
3Y envió David á preguntar por aquella mujer, y dijéronle: Aquella es Bath-sheba hija de Eliam, mujer de Uría Hetheo.
4Y envió David mensajeros, y tomóla: y así que hubo entrado á él, él durmió con ella. Purificóse luego ella de su inmundicia, y se volvió á su casa.
5Y concibió la mujer, y enviólo á hacer saber á David, diciendo: Yo estoy embarazada.
6Entonces David envió á decir á Joab: Envíame á Uría Hetheo. Y enviólo Joab á David.
7Y como Uría vino á él, preguntóle David por la salud de Joab, y por la salud del pueblo, y asimismo de la guerra.
8Después dijo David á Uría: Desciende á tu casa, y lava tus pies. Y saliendo Uría de casa del rey, vino tras de él comida real.
9Mas Uría durmió á la puerta de la casa del rey con todos los siervos de su señor, y no descendió á su casa.
10E hicieron saber esto á David, diciendo: Uría no ha descendido á su casa. Y dijo David á Uría: ¿No has venido de camino? ¿por qué pues no descendiste á tu casa?
11Y Uría respondió á David: El arca, é Israel y Judá, están debajo de tiendas; y mi señor Joab, y los siervos de mi señor sobre la haz del campo: ¿y había yo de entrar en mi casa para comer y beber, y á dormir con mi mujer? Por vida tuya, y por vida de tu alma, que yo no haré tal cosa.
12Y David dijo á Uría: Estáte aquí aún hoy, y mañana te despacharé. Y quedóse Uría en Jerusalem aquel día y el siguiente.
13Y David lo convidó, é hízole comer y beber delante de sí, hasta embriagarlo. Y él salió á la tarde á dormir en su cama con los siervos de su señor; mas no descendió á su casa.
14Venida la mañana, escribió David á Joab una carta, la cual envió por mano de Uría.
15Y escribió en la carta, diciendo: Poned á Uría delante de la fuerza de la batalla, y desamparadle, para que sea herido y muera.
16Así fué que cuando Joab cercó la ciudad, puso á Uría en el lugar donde sabía que estaban los hombres más valientes.
17Y saliendo luego los de la ciudad, pelearon con Joab, y cayeron algunos del pueblo de los siervos de David; y murió también Uría Hetheo.
18Entonces envió Joab, é hizo saber á David todos los negocios de la guerra.
19Y mandó al mensajero, diciendo: Cuando acabares de contar al rey todos los negocios de la guerra,
20Si el rey comenzare á enojarse, y te dijere: ¿Por qué os acercasteis á la ciudad peleando? ¿no sabíais lo que suelen arrojar del muro?
21¿Quién hirió á Abimelech hijo de Jerobaal? ¿no echó una mujer del muro un pedazo de una rueda de molino, y murió en Thebes? ¿por qué os llegasteis al muro?: entonces tú le dirás: También tu siervo Uría Hetheo es muerto.
22Y fué el mensajero, y llegando, contó á David todas las cosas á que Joab le había enviado.
23Y dijo el mensajero á David: Prevalecieron contra nosotros los hombres, que salieron á nosotros al campo, bien que nosotros les hicimos retroceder hasta la entrada de la puerta;
24Pero los flecheros tiraron contra tus siervos desde el muro, y murieron algunos de los siervos del rey; y murió también tu siervo Uría Hetheo.
25Y David dijo al mensajero: Dirás así á Joab: No tengas pesar de esto, que de igual y semejante manera suele consumir la espada: esfuerza la batalla contra la ciudad, hasta que la rindas. Y tú aliéntale.
26Y oyendo la mujer de Uría que su marido Uría era muerto, hizo duelo por su marido.
27Y pasado el luto, envió David y recogióla á su casa: y fué ella su mujer, y parióle un hijo. Mas esto que David había hecho, fué desagradable á los ojos de Jehová.
King James Version
1And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
5And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
6And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.
7And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.
8And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.
9But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
10And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?
11And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
12And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.
13And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
14And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
16And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
17And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
20And if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?
21Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
22So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.
24And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
25Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
26And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
World English Bible
1At the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.
2At evening, David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at.
3David sent and inquired after the woman. One said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, Uriah the Hittite’s wife?”
4David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in to him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned to her house.
5The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”
6David sent to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” Joab sent Uriah to David.
7When Uriah had come to him, David asked him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
8David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” Uriah departed out of the king’s house, and a gift from the king was sent after him.
9But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and didn’t go down to his house.
10When they had told David, saying, “Uriah didn’t go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Haven’t you come from a journey? Why didn’t you go down to your house?”
11Uriah said to David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah, are staying in tents; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing!”
12David said to Uriah, “Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day.
13When David had called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. At evening, he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but didn’t go down to his house.
14In the morning, David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15He wrote in the letter, saying, “Send Uriah to the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck and die.”
16When Joab kept watch on the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew that valiant men were.
17The men of the city went out and fought with Joab. Some of the people fell, even of David’s servants; and Uriah the Hittite died also.
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;
19and he commanded the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king,
20it shall be that, if the king’s wrath arise, and he asks you, ‘Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Didn’t you know that they would shoot from the wall?
21Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Didn’t a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.’”
22So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.
23The messenger said to David, “The men prevailed against us, and came out to us into the field; and we were on them even to the entrance of the gate.
24The shooters shot at your servants from off the wall; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”
25Then David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it.’ Encourage him.”
26When Uriah’s wife heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.
27When the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.