2 Samuel 18
Young's Literal Translation
1And David inspecteth the people who [are] with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,
2and David sendeth the third of the people by the hand of Joab, and the third by the hand of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and the third by the hand of Ittai the Gittite, and the king saith unto the people, 'I certainly go out — I also — with you.'
3And the people say, 'Thou dost not go out, for if we utterly flee, they do not set [their] heart upon us; and if half of us die, they do not set [their] heart unto us — for now like us [are] ten thousand; and now, better that thou be to us from the city for an helper.'
4And the king saith unto them, 'That which is good in your eyes I do;' and the king standeth at the side of the gate, and all the people have gone out by hundreds and by thousands,
5and the king chargeth Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'Gently — for me, for the youth, for Absalom;' and all the people heard in the king's charging all the heads concerning Absalom.
6And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;
7and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day — twenty thousand;
8and the battle is there scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplieth to devour among the people more than those whom the sword hath devoured in that day.
9And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that [is] under him hath passed on.
10And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, 'Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.'
11And Joab saith to the man who is declaring [it] to him, 'And lo, thou hast seen — and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth — and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?'
12And the man saith unto Joab, 'Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who [is] against the youth — against Absalom;
13or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou — thou dost station thyself over-against.'
14And Joab saith, 'Not right — I tarry before thee;' and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he [is] alive, in the midst of the oak.
15And they go round — ten youths bearing weapons of Joab — and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
16And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept back the people;
17and they take Absalom and cast him in the forest unto the great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones, and all Israel have fled — each to his tent.
18And Absalom hath taken, and setteth up for himself in his life, the standing-pillar that [is] in the king's valley, for he said, 'I have no son to cause my name to be remembered;' and he calleth the standing-pillar by his own name, and it is called 'The monument of Absalom' unto this day.
19And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, 'Let me run, I pray thee, and I bear the king tidings, for Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of his enemies;'
20and Joab saith to him, 'Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king's son [is] dead.'
21And Joab saith to Cushi, 'Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;' and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
22And Ahimaaz son of Zadok addeth again, and saith unto Joab, 'And whatever it be, let me run, I pray thee, I also, after the Cushite.' And Joab saith, 'Why [is] this — thou art running, my son, and for thee there are no tidings found?' —
23'And, whatever it be, [said he,] let me run.' And he saith to him, 'Run;' and Ahimaaz runneth the way of the circuit, and passeth by the Cushite.
24And David is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.
25And the watchman calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, 'If by himself, tidings [are] in his mouth;' and he cometh, coming on and drawing near.
26And the watchman seeth another man running, and the watchman calleth unto the gatekeeper, and saith, 'Lo, a man running by himself;' and the king saith, 'Also this one is bearing tidings.'
27And the watchman saith, 'I see the running of the first as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' And the king saith, 'This [is] a good man, and with good tidings he cometh.'
28And Ahimaaz calleth and saith unto the king, 'Peace;' and he boweth himself to the king, on his face, to the earth, and saith, 'Blessed [is] Jehovah thy God who hath shut up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.'
29And the king saith, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And Ahimaaz saith, 'I saw the great multitude, at the sending away of the servant of the king, even thy servant [by] Joab, and I have not known what [it is].'
30And the king saith, 'Turn round, station thyself here;' and he turneth round and standeth still.
31And lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, 'Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising up against thee.'
32And the king saith unto the Cushite, 'Peace to the youth — to Absalom?' And the Cushite saith, 'Let them be — as the youth — the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee for evil.'
33And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, 'My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.'
Reina-Valera 1909
1DAVID pues revistó el pueblo que tenía consigo, y puso sobre ellos tribunos y centuriones.
2Y consignó la tercera parte del pueblo al mando de Joab, y otra tercera al mando de Abisai, hijo de Sarvia, hermano de Joab, y la otra tercera parte al mando de Ittai Getheo. Y dijo el rey al pueblo: Yo también saldré con vosotros.
3Mas el pueblo dijo: No saldrás; porque si nosotros huyéremos, no harán caso de nosotros; y aunque la mitad de nosotros muera, no harán caso de nosotros: mas tú ahora vales tanto como diez mil de nosotros. Será pues mejor que tú nos des ayuda desde la ciudad.
4Entonces el rey les dijo: Yo haré lo que bien os pareciere. Y púsose el rey á la entrada de la puerta, mientras salía todo el pueblo de ciento en ciento y de mil en mil.
5Y el rey mandó á Joab y á Abisai y á Ittai, diciendo: Tratad benignamente por amor de mí al mozo Absalom. Y todo el pueblo oyó cuando dió el rey orden acerca de Absalom á todos los capitanes.
6Salió pues el pueblo al campo contra Israel, y dióse la batalla en el bosque de Ephraim;
7Y allí cayó el pueblo de Israel delante de los siervos de David, é hízose allí en aquel día una gran matanza de veinte mil hombres;
8Y derramándose allí el ejército por la haz de toda la tierra, fueron más los que consumió el bosque de los del pueblo, que los que consumió el cuchillo aquel día.
9Y encontróse Absalom con los siervos de David: é iba Absalom sobre un mulo, y el mulo se entró debajo de un espeso y grande alcornoque, y asiósele la cabeza al alcornoque, y quedó entre el cielo y la tierra; pues el mulo en que iba pasó delante.
10Y viéndolo uno, avisó á Joab, diciendo: He aquí que he visto á Absalom colgado de un alcornoque.
11Y Joab respondió al hombre que le daba la nueva: Y viéndolo tú, ¿por qué no le heriste luego allí echándole á tierra? y sobre mí, que te hubiera dado diez siclos de plata, y un talabarte.
12Y el hombre dijo á Joab: Aunque me importara en mis manos mil siclos de plata, no extendiera yo mi mano contra el hijo del rey; porque nosotros lo oímos cuando el rey te mandó á ti y á Abisai y á Ittai, diciendo: Mirad que ninguno toque en el joven Absalom.
13Por otra parte, habría yo hecho traición contra mi vida (pues que al rey nada se le esconde), y tú mismo estarías en contra.
14Y respondió Joab: No es razón que yo te ruegue. Y tomando tres dardos en sus manos, hincólos en el corazón de Absalom, que aun estaba vivo en medio del alcornoque.
15Cercándolo luego diez mancebos escuderos de Joab, hirieron á Absalom, y acabáronle.
16Entonces Joab tocó la corneta, y el pueblo se volvió de seguir á Israel, porque Joab detuvo al pueblo.
17Tomando después á Absalom, echáronle en un gran hoyo en el bosque, y levantaron sobre él un muy grande montón de piedras; y todo Israel huyó, cada uno á sus estancias.
18Y había Absalom en su vida tomado y levantádose una columna, la cual está en el valle del rey; porque había dicho: Yo no tengo hijo que conserve la memoria de mi nombre. Y llamó aquella columna de su nombre: y así se llamó el Lugar de Absalom, hasta hoy.
19Entonces Ahimaas hijo de Sadoc dijo: ¿Correré ahora, y daré las nuevas al rey de como Jehová ha defendido su causa de la mano de sus enemigos?
20Y respondió Joab: Hoy no llevarás las nuevas: las llevarás otro día: no darás hoy la nueva, porque el hijo del rey es muerto.
21Y Joab dijo á Cusi: Ve tú, y di al rey lo que has visto. Y Cusi hizo reverencia á Joab, y corrió.
22Entonces Ahimaas hijo de Sadoc tornó á decir á Joab: Sea lo que fuere, yo correré ahora tras Cusi. Y Joab dijo: Hijo mío, ¿para qué has tú de correr, pues que no hallarás premio por las nuevas?
23Mas él respondió: Sea lo que fuere, yo correré. Entonces le dijo: Corre. Corrió pues Ahimaas por el camino de la llanura, y pasó delante de Cusi.
24Estaba David á la sazón sentado entre las dos puertas; y el atalaya había ido al terrado de sobre la puerta en el muro, y alzando sus ojos, miró, y vió á uno que corría solo.
25El atalaya dió luego voces, é hízolo saber al rey. Y el rey dijo: Si es solo, buenas nuevas trae. En tanto que él venía acercándose,
26Vió el atalaya otro que corría; y dió voces el atalaya al portero, diciendo: He aquí otro hombre que corre solo. Y el rey dijo: Éste también es mensajero.
27Y el atalaya volvió á decir: Paréceme el correr del primero como el correr de Ahimaas hijo de Sadoc. Y respondió el rey: Ese es hombre de bien, y viene con buena nueva.
28Entonces Ahimaas dijo en alta voz al rey: Paz. E inclinóse á tierra delante del rey, y dijo: Bendito sea Jehová Dios tuyo, que ha entregado á los hombres que habían levantado sus manos contra mi señor el rey.
29Y el rey dijo: ¿El mozo Absalom tiene paz? Y Ahimaas respondió: Vi yo un grande alboroto cuando envió Joab al siervo del rey y á mí tu siervo; mas no sé qué era.
30Y el rey dijo: Pasa, y ponte allí. Y él pasó, y paróse.
31Y luego vino Cusi, y dijo: Reciba nueva mi señor el rey, que hoy Jehová ha defendido tu causa de la mano de todos los que se habían levantado contra ti.
32El rey entonces dijo á Cusi: ¿El mozo Absalom tiene paz? Y Cusi respondió: Como aquel mozo sean los enemigos de mi señor el rey, y todos los que se levantan contra ti para mal.
33Entonces el rey se turbó, y subióse á la sala de la puerta, y lloró; y yendo, decía así: ¡Hijo mío Absalom, hijo mío, hijo mío Absalom! ¡Quién me diera que muriera yo en lugar de ti, Absalom, hijo mío, hijo mío!
King James Version
1And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
4And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
19Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
20And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
21Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
World English Bible
1David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2David sent the people out, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”
3But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
4The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
5The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
6So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
7The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
8For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
10A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
11Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”
12The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
13Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
14Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the middle of the oak.
15Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
16Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
17They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
18Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.
19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
20Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
22Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?”
23“But come what may,” he said, “I will run.” He said to him, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
24Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
25The watchman shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.
26The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”
27The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
28Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
29The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.”
30The king said, “Come and stand here.” He came and stood still.
31Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for the LORD has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.”
32The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”
33The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”