\id 2SA - The Cambridge Paragraph Bible of the Authorized English Version 
\h 2 Samuel 
\toc1 The Second Book of Samuel, Otherwise Called, The Second Book of the Kings 
\toc2 2 Samuel 
\toc3 2 Sam. 
\mt2 THE  
\mt1 SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL,  
\mt3 OTHERWISE CALLED,  
\mt2 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS.  
\c 1  
\m
\v 1 \sc Now\sc* it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;  
\v 2 it came even to pass on the third day, that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and \add so\add* it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.  
\v 3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.  
\v 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.  
\v 5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?  
\v 6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.  
\v 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here \add am\add* I.  
\v 8 And he said unto me, Who \add art\add* thou? And I answered him, I \add am\add* an Amalekite.  
\v 9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life \add is\add* yet whole in me.  
\v 10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after \add that\add* he was fallen: and I took the crown that \add was\add* upon his head, and the bracelet that \add was\add* on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.  
\v 11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that \add were\add* with him:  
\v 12 and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the \sc Lord\sc*, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.  
\v 13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence \add art\add* thou? And he answered, I \add am\add* the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.  
\v 14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the \sc Lord’s\sc* anointed?  
\v 15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, \add and\add* fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.  
\v 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood \add be\add* upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the \sc Lord’s\sc* anointed.   
\p
\v 17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:  
\v 18 (also he bade \add them\add* teach the children of Judah the \add use of the\add* bow: behold, \add it is\add* written in the book of Jasher.)   
\q1
\v 19 The beauty of Israel \add is\add* slain upon thy high places:  
\q1 How are the mighty fallen!   
\q1
\v 20 Tell \add it\add* not in Gath,  
\q1 Publish \add it\add* not in the streets of Askelon;  
\q1 Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,  
\q1 Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.   
\q1
\v 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, \add let there be\add* no dew,  
\q1 Neither \add let there be\add* rain upon you, nor fields of offerings:  
\q1 For there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away,  
\q1 The shield of Saul, \add as though he had\add* not \add been\add* anointed with oil.   
\q1
\v 22 From the blood of the slain,  
\q1 From the fat of the mighty,  
\q1 The bow of Jonathan turned not back,  
\q1 And the sword of Saul returned not empty.   
\q1
\v 23 Saul and Jonathan \add were\add* lovely and pleasant in their lives,  
\q1 And in their death they were not divided:  
\q1 They were swifter than eagles,  
\q1 They were stronger than lions.   
\q1
\v 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,  
\q1 Who clothed you in scarlet, with \add other\add* delights,  
\q1 Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.   
\q1
\v 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!  
\q1 O Jonathan, \add thou wast\add* slain in thine high places.   
\q1
\v 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan:  
\q1 Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:  
\q1 Thy love to me was wonderful,  
\q1 Passing the love of women.   
\q1
\v 27 How are the mighty fallen,  
\q1 And the weapons of war perished!   
\c 2  
\p
\v 1 And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the \sc Lord\sc*, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the \sc Lord\sc* said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.  
\v 2 So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.  
\v 3 And his men that \add were\add* with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.  
\v 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, \add That\add* the men of Jabesh-gilead \add were they\add* that buried Saul.  
\v 5 And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed \add be\add* ye of the \sc Lord\sc*, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, \add even\add* unto Saul, and have buried him.  
\v 6 And now the \sc Lord\sc* shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.  
\v 7 Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.  
\v 8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s host, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over \add to\add* Mahanaim;  
\v 9 and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.  
\v 10 Ish-bosheth Saul’s son \add was\add* forty years old when he \add began\add* to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.  
\v 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.   
\p
\v 12 And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.  
\v 13 And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.  
\v 14 And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.  
\v 15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which \add pertained\add* to Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.  
\v 16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and \add thrust\add* his sword in his fellow’s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which \add is\add* in Gibeon.  
\v 17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.  
\v 18 And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel \add was as\add* light of foot as a wild roe.  
\v 19 And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.  
\v 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, \add Art\add* thou Asahel? And he answered, I \add am\add*.  
\v 21 And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.  
\v 22 And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?  
\v 23 Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth \add rib\add*, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.  
\v 24 Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that \add lieth\add* before Giah \add by\add* the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.  
\v 25 And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill.  
\v 26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?  
\v 27 And Joab said, \add As\add* God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.  
\v 28 So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.  
\v 29 And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went \add through\add* all Bithron, and they came \add to\add* Mahanaim.  
\v 30 And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel.  
\v 31 But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner’s men, \add so that\add* three hundred and threescore men died.  
\v 32 And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which \add was in\add* Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.   
\c 3  
\p
\v 1 Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.  
\v 2 And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;  
\v 3 and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;  
\v 4 and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;  
\v 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.   
\p
\v 6 And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.  
\v 7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name \add was\add* Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and \add Ish-bosheth\add* said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?  
\v 8 Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, \add Am\add* I a dog’s head, which against Judah do shew kindness \add this\add* day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning \add this\add* woman?  
\v 9 So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the \sc Lord\sc* hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;  
\v 10 to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.  
\v 11 And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.   
\p
\v 12 And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose \add is\add* the land? saying \add also\add*, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand \add shall be\add* with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.  
\v 13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.  
\v 14 And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver \add me\add* my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.  
\v 15 And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from \add her\add* husband, \add even\add* from Phaltiel the son of Laish.  
\v 16 And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.  
\v 17 And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:  
\v 18 now then do \add it:\add* for the \sc Lord\sc* hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.  
\v 19 And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed \add good\add* to the whole house of Benjamin.  
\v 20 So Abner came to David \add to\add* Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that \add were\add* with him a feast.  
\v 21 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.   
\p
\v 22 And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from \add pursuing\add* a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner \add was\add* not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.  
\v 23 When Joab and all the host that \add was\add* with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.  
\v 24 Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why \add is\add* it \add that\add* thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?  
\v 25 Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.  
\v 26 And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew \add it\add* not.  
\v 27 And when Abner was returned \add to\add* Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there \add under\add* the fifth \add rib\add*, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.   
\p
\v 28 And afterward when David heard \add it\add*, he said, I and my kingdom \add are\add* guiltless before the \sc Lord\sc* for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:  
\v 29 let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.  
\v 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.   
\p
\v 31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that \add were\add* with him, Rent your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David \add himself\add* followed the bier.  
\v 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lift up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.  
\v 33 And the king lamented over Abner, and said,  
\q1 Died Abner as a fool dieth?   
\q1
\v 34 Thy hands \add were\add* not bound,  
\q1 Nor thy feet put into fetters:  
\q1 As \add a man\add* falleth before wicked men, \add so\add* fellest thou.  
\p And all the people wept again over him.  
\v 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.  
\v 36 And all the people took notice \add of it\add*, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did, pleased all the people.  
\v 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.  
\v 38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great \add man\add* fallen this day in Israel?  
\v 39 And I \add am this\add* day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah \add be\add* too hard for me: the \sc Lord\sc* shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.   
\c 4  
\p
\v 1 And when Saul’s son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.  
\v 2 And Saul’s son had two men \add that were\add* captains of bands: the name of the one \add was\add* Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:  
\v 3 and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)  
\v 4 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son \add that was\add* lame of \add his\add* feet, \add and\add* was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name \add was\add* Mephibosheth.  
\v 5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.  
\v 6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, \add as though\add* they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth \add rib:\add* and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.  
\v 7 For when they came \add into\add* the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.  
\v 8 And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David \add to\add* Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the \sc Lord\sc* hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.  
\v 9 And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, \add As\add* the \sc Lord\sc* liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,  
\v 10 when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who \add thought\add* that I would have given him a reward for \add his\add* tidings:  
\v 11 how much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?  
\v 12 And David commanded \add his\add* young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged \add them\add* up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried \add it\add* in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.   
\c 5  
\p
\v 1 Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we \add are\add* thy bone and thy flesh.  
\v 2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the \sc Lord\sc* said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.  
\v 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the \sc Lord\sc*: and they anointed David king over Israel.  
\v 4 David \add was\add* thirty years old when he \add began\add* to reign, \add and\add* he reigned forty years.  
\v 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.   
\p
\v 6 And the king and his men went \add to\add* Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.  
\v 7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same \add is\add* the city of David.  
\v 8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, \add that are\add* hated of David’s soul, \add he shall be chief and captain\add*. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.  
\v 9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.  
\v 10 And David went on, and grew great, and the \sc Lord\sc* God of hosts \add was\add* with him.  
\v 11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David a house.  
\v 12 And David perceived that the \sc Lord\sc* had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.   
\p
\v 13 And David took \add him\add* mo concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.  
\v 14 And these \add be\add* the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,  
\v 15 Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,  
\v 16 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.   
\p
\v 17 But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard \add of it\add*, and went down to the hold.  
\v 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  
\v 19 And David inquired of the \sc Lord\sc*, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the \sc Lord\sc* said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.  
\v 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The \sc Lord\sc* hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.  
\v 21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burnt them.  
\v 22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  
\v 23 And when David inquired of the \sc Lord\sc*, he said, Thou shalt not go up; \add but\add* fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.  
\v 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, \add that\add* then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the \sc Lord\sc* go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.  
\v 25 And David did so, as the \sc Lord\sc* had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come \add to\add* Gazer.   
\c 6  
\p
\v 1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen \add men\add* of Israel, thirty thousand.  
\v 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that \add were\add* with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called \add by\add* the name of the \sc Lord\sc* of hosts that dwelleth \add between\add* the cherubims.  
\v 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that \add was\add* in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.  
\v 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which \add was\add* at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.  
\v 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the \sc Lord\sc* on all \add manner of instruments made of\add* fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.  
\v 6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth \add his hand\add* to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook \add it\add*.  
\v 7 And the anger of the \sc Lord\sc* was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for \add his\add* error; and there he died by the ark of God.  
\v 8 And David was displeased, because the \sc Lord\sc* had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called \add the name\add* of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.  
\v 9 And David was afraid of the \sc Lord\sc* that day, and said, How shall the ark of the \sc Lord\sc* come to me?  
\v 10 So David would not remove the ark of the \sc Lord\sc* unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside \add into\add* the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.  
\v 11 And the ark of the \sc Lord\sc* continued \add in\add* the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the \sc Lord\sc* blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.   
\p
\v 12 And it was told king David, saying, The \sc Lord\sc* hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that \add pertaineth\add* unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom \add into\add* the city of David with gladness.  
\v 13 And it was \add so\add*, that when they that bare the ark of the \sc Lord\sc* had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.  
\v 14 And David danced before the \sc Lord\sc* with all \add his\add* might; and David \add was\add* girded \add with\add* a linen ephod.  
\v 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the \sc Lord\sc* with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.  
\v 16 And as the ark of the \sc Lord\sc* came \add into\add* the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the \sc Lord\sc*; and she despised him in her heart.  
\v 17 And they brought in the ark of the \sc Lord\sc*, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the \sc Lord\sc*.  
\v 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the \sc Lord\sc* of hosts.  
\v 19 And he dealt among all the people, \add even\add* among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece \add of flesh\add*, and a flagon \add of wine\add*. So all the people departed every one to his house.  
\v 20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain \add fellows\add* shamelessly uncovereth himself!  
\v 21 And David said unto Michal, \add It was\add* before the \sc Lord\sc*, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the \sc Lord\sc*, over Israel: therefore will I play before the \sc Lord\sc*.  
\v 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.  
\v 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.   
\c 7  
\p
\v 1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the \sc Lord\sc* had given him rest round about from all his enemies;  
\v 2 that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.  
\v 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that \add is\add* in thine heart; for the \sc Lord\sc* \add is\add* with thee.  
\v 4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the \sc Lord\sc* came unto Nathan, saying,  
\v 5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the \sc Lord\sc*, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?  
\v 6 Whereas I have not dwelt in \add any\add* house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.  
\v 7 In all \add the places\add* wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me a house of cedar?  
\v 8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the \sc Lord\sc* of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:  
\v 9 and I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great \add men\add* that \add are\add* in the earth.  
\v 10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,  
\v 11 and \add as\add* since the time that I commanded judges \add to be\add* over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the \sc Lord\sc* telleth thee that he will make thee a house.  
\v 12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  
\v 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.  
\v 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:  
\v 15 but my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took \add it\add* from Saul, whom I put away before thee.  
\v 16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be stablished for ever before thee: thy throne shall be stablished for ever.  
\v 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.   
\p
\v 18 Then went king David in, and sat before the \sc Lord\sc*, and he said, Who \add am\add* I, O Lord \sc God\sc*? and what \add is\add* my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?  
\v 19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord \sc God\sc*; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And \add is\add* this the manner of man, O Lord \sc God\sc*?  
\v 20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord \sc God\sc*, knowest thy servant.  
\v 21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know \add them\add*.  
\v 22 Wherefore thou art great, O \sc Lord\sc* God: for \add there is\add* none like thee, neither \add is there any\add* God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.  
\v 23 And what one nation in the earth \add is\add* like thy people, \add even\add* like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, \add from\add* the nations and their gods?  
\v 24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, \sc Lord\sc*, art become their God.  
\v 25 And now, O \sc Lord\sc* God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish \add it\add* for ever, and do as thou hast said.  
\v 26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The \sc Lord\sc* of hosts \add is\add* the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.  
\v 27 For thou, O \sc Lord\sc* of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.  
\v 28 And now, O Lord \sc God\sc*, thou \add art\add* that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:  
\v 29 therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that \add it\add* may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord \sc God\sc*, hast spoken \add it:\add* and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.   
\c 8  
\p
\v 1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.  
\v 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even \add with\add* two lines measured he to put to death, and \add with\add* one full line to keep alive. And \add so\add* the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.  
\v 3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.  
\v 4 And David took from him a thousand \add chariots\add*, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot \add horses\add*, but reserved of them \add for\add* an hundred chariots.  
\v 5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.  
\v 6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the \sc Lord\sc* preserved David whithersoever he went.  
\v 7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them \add to\add* Jerusalem.  
\v 8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.  
\v 9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,  
\v 10 then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And \add Joram\add* brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:  
\v 11 which also king David did dedicate unto the \sc Lord\sc*, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;  
\v 12 of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.  
\v 13 And David gat \add him\add* a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, \add being\add* eighteen thousand \add men\add*.  
\v 14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the \sc Lord\sc* preserved David whithersoever he went.   
\p
\v 15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.  
\v 16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah \add was\add* over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud \add was\add* recorder;  
\v 17 and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, \add were\add* the priests; and Seraiah \add was\add* the scribe;  
\v 18 and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada \add was over\add* both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.   
\c 9  
\p
\v 1 And David said, Is there yet \add any\add* that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?  
\v 2 And \add there was\add* of the house of Saul a servant whose name \add was\add* Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, \add Art\add* thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant \add is he\add*.  
\v 3 And the king said, \add Is there\add* not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, \add which is\add* lame on \add his\add* feet.  
\v 4 And the king said unto him, Where \add is\add* he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he \add is in\add* the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.  
\v 5 Then king David sent, and fet him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.  
\v 6 Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!  
\v 7 And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.  
\v 8 And he bowed himself, and said, What \add is\add* thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I \add am?\add*  
\v 9 Then the king called to Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master’s son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.  
\v 10 Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in \add the fruits\add*, that thy master’s son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master’s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.  
\v 11 Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, \add said the king\add*, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.  
\v 12 And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name \add was\add* Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba \add were\add* servants unto Mephibosheth.  
\v 13 So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and \add was\add* lame on both his feet.   
\c 10  
\p
\v 1 And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.  
\v 2 Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David’s servants came \add into\add* the land of the children of Ammon.  
\v 3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David \add rather\add* sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?  
\v 4 Wherefore Hanun took David’s servants, and shaved off the \add one\add* half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, \add even\add* to their buttocks, and sent them away.  
\v 5 When they told \add it\add* unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and \add then\add* return.  
\v 6 And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ish-tob twelve thousand men.  
\v 7 And when David heard \add of it\add*, he sent Joab, and all the host \add of\add* the mighty \add men\add*.  
\v 8 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array \add at\add* the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, \add were\add* by themselves in the field.  
\v 9 When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice \add men\add* of Israel, and put \add them\add* in array against the Syrians:  
\v 10 and the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put \add them\add* in array against the children of Ammon.  
\v 11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.  
\v 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the \sc Lord\sc* do that which seemeth him good.  
\v 13 And Joab drew nigh, and the people that \add were\add* with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.  
\v 14 And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, \add then\add* fled they \add also\add* before Abishai, and entered \add into\add* the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came \add to\add* Jerusalem.   
\p
\v 15 And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.  
\v 16 And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that \add were\add* beyond the river: and they came \add to\add* Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer \add went\add* before them.  
\v 17 And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set \add themselves\add* in array against David, and fought with him.  
\v 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew \add the men of\add* seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.  
\v 19 And when all the kings \add that were\add* servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.   
\c 11  
\p
\v 1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth \add to battle\add*, 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 \add still\add* at Jerusalem.  
\v 2 And 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 \add herself;\add* and the woman \add was\add* very beautiful to look upon.  
\v 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And \add one\add* said, \add Is\add* not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?  
\v 4 And 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.  
\v 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I \add am\add* with child.  
\v 6 And David sent to Joab, \add saying\add*, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.  
\v 7 And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded \add of him\add* how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.  
\v 8 And 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 \add of meat\add* from the king.  
\v 9 But Uriah slept \add at\add* the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.  
\v 10 And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from \add thy\add* journey? why \add then\add* didst thou not go down unto thine house?  
\v 11 And 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? \add as\add* thou livest, and \add as\add* thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.  
\v 12 And 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.  
\v 13 And 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.  
\v 14 And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent \add it\add* by the hand of Uriah.  
\v 15 And 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.  
\v 16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men \add were\add*.  
\v 17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell \add some\add* of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.  
\v 18 Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;  
\v 19 and charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,  
\v 20 and if so be that the king’s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye \add so\add* nigh unto the city when \add ye\add* did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?  
\v 21 Who 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.  
\v 22 So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.  
\v 23 And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us \add into\add* the field, and we were upon them \add even\add* unto the entering of the gate.  
\v 24 And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and \add some\add* of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.  
\v 25 Then 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 \add more\add* strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.  
\v 26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.  
\v 27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fet her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the \sc Lord\sc*.   
\c 12  
\p
\v 1 And the \sc Lord\sc* sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.  
\v 2 The rich \add man\add* had exceeding many flocks and herds:  
\v 3 but the poor \add man\add* had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.  
\v 4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.  
\v 5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, \add As\add* the \sc Lord\sc* liveth, the man that hath done this \add thing\add* shall surely die:  
\v 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.  
\v 7 And Nathan said to David, Thou \add art\add* the man. Thus saith the \sc Lord\sc* God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;  
\v 8 and I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if \add that had been too\add* little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.  
\v 9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the \sc Lord\sc*, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.  
\v 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.  
\v 11 Thus saith the \sc Lord\sc*, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give \add them\add* unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.  
\v 12 For thou didst \add it\add* secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.  
\v 13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the \sc Lord\sc*. And Nathan said unto David, The \sc Lord\sc* also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.  
\v 14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the \sc Lord\sc* to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.   
\p
\v 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the \sc Lord\sc* strake the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.  
\v 16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.  
\v 17 And the elders of his house arose, \add and went\add* to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.  
\v 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was \add yet\add* alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him \add that\add* the child is dead?  
\v 19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.  
\v 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed \add himself\add*, and changed his apparel, and came \add into\add* the house of the \sc Lord\sc*, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.  
\v 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing \add is\add* this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, \add while it was\add* alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.  
\v 22 And he said, While the child \add was\add* yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell \add whether\add* \sc God\sc* will be gracious to me, that the child may live?  
\v 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.  
\v 24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the \sc Lord\sc* loved him.  
\v 25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the \sc Lord\sc*.   
\p
\v 26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.  
\v 27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.  
\v 28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.  
\v 29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.  
\v 30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof \add was\add* a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was \add set\add* on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.  
\v 31 And he brought forth the people that \add were\add* therein, and put \add them\add* under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned \add unto\add* Jerusalem.   
\c 13  
\p
\v 1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name \add was\add* Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.  
\v 2 And Amnon was \add so\add* vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she \add was\add* a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.  
\v 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name \add was\add* Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab \add was\add* a very subtil man.  
\v 4 And he said unto him, Why \add art\add* thou, \add being\add* the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.  
\v 5 And Jonadab said unto him, Lay \add thee\add* down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see \add it\add*, and eat \add it\add* at her hand.  
\v 6 So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make \add me\add* a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.  
\v 7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now \add to\add* thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.  
\v 8 So Tamar went \add to\add* her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded \add it\add*, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.  
\v 9 And she took a pan, and poured \add them\add* out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.  
\v 10 And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat \add into\add* the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought \add them\add* into the chamber to Amnon her brother.  
\v 11 And when she had brought \add them\add* unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.  
\v 12 And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.  
\v 13 And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and \add as for\add* thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.  
\v 14 Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.  
\v 15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her \add was\add* greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.  
\v 16 And she said unto him, \add There is\add* no cause: this evil in sending me away \add is\add* greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.  
\v 17 Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this \add woman\add* out from me, and bolt the door after her.  
\v 18 And \add she had\add* a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters \add that were\add* virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.  
\v 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that \add was\add* on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.  
\v 20 And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he \add is\add* thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate \add in\add* her brother Absalom’s house.  
\v 21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.  
\v 22 And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.   
\p
\v 23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal-hazor, which \add is\add* beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.  
\v 24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.  
\v 25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.  
\v 26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?  
\v 27 But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.  
\v 28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.  
\v 29 And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.  
\v 30 And it came to pass, while they \add were\add* in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.  
\v 31 Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood \add by\add* with their clothes rent.  
\v 32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose \add that\add* they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom \add this\add* hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.  
\v 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think \add that\add* all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.  
\v 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.  
\v 35 And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.  
\v 36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that behold, the king’s sons came, and lift up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.  
\v 37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And \add David\add* mourned for his son every day.  
\v 38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.  
\v 39 And \add the soul of\add* king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.   
\c 14  
\p
\v 1 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart \add was\add* toward Absalom.  
\v 2 And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetcht thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not \add thyself with\add* oil, but be as a woman \add that had\add* a long time mourned for the dead:  
\v 3 and come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.  
\v 4 And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.  
\v 5 And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I \add am\add* indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.  
\v 6 And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and \add there was\add* none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.  
\v 7 And behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and \add so\add* they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband \add neither\add* name nor remainder upon the earth.  
\v 8 And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.  
\v 9 And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity \add be\add* on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne \add be\add* guiltless.  
\v 10 And the king said, Whosoever saith \add ought\add* unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.  
\v 11 Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the \sc Lord\sc* thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, \add As\add* the \sc Lord\sc* liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.  
\v 12 Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak \add one\add* word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.  
\v 13 And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch \add home\add* again his banished.  
\v 14 For we must needs die, and \add are\add* as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up \add again;\add* neither doth God respect \add any\add* person: yet doth he devise means, that \add his\add* banished be not expelled from him.  
\v 15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, \add it is\add* because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.  
\v 16 For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man \add that would\add* destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.  
\v 17 Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so \add is\add* my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the \sc Lord\sc* thy God will be with thee.  
\v 18 Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.  
\v 19 And the king said, \add Is not\add* the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, \add As\add* thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:  
\v 20 to fetch about \add this\add* form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord \add is\add* wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all \add things\add* that \add are\add* in the earth.  
\v 21 And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.  
\v 22 And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.  
\v 23 So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom \add to\add* Jerusalem.  
\v 24 And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.   
\p
\v 25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.  
\v 26 And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled \add it:\add* because \add the hair\add* was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head \add at\add* two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.  
\v 27 And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name \add was\add* Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.  
\v 28 So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.  
\v 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.  
\v 30 Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.  
\v 31 Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto \add his\add* house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?  
\v 32 And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? \add it had been\add* good for me \add to have been\add* there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be \add any\add* iniquity in me, let him kill me.  
\v 33 So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.   
\c 15  
\p
\v 1 And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.  
\v 2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was \add so, that when\add* any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city \add art\add* thou? And he said, Thy servant \add is\add* of one of the tribes of Israel.  
\v 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters \add are\add* good and right; but \add there is\add* no man \add deputed\add* of the king to hear thee.  
\v 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath \add any\add* suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice.  
\v 5 And it was \add so\add*, that when any man came nigh \add to him\add* to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.  
\v 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.  
\v 7 And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the \sc Lord\sc*, in Hebron.  
\v 8 For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the \sc Lord\sc* shall bring me again indeed \add to\add* Jerusalem, then I will serve the \sc Lord\sc*.  
\v 9 And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.  
\v 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.  
\v 11 And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, \add that were\add* called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.  
\v 12 And Absalom sent \add for\add* Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counseller, from his city, \add even\add* from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.   
\p
\v 13 And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.  
\v 14 And David said unto all his servants that \add were\add* with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not \add else\add* escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.  
\v 15 And the king’s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants \add are ready to do\add* whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.  
\v 16 And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, \add which were\add* concubines, to keep the house.  
\v 17 And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried \add in\add* a place that \add was\add* far off.  
\v 18 And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.  
\v 19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou \add art\add* a stranger, and also an exile.  
\v 20 \add Whereas\add* thou camest \add but\add* yesterday, should I \add this\add* 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 \add be\add* with thee.  
\v 21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, \add As\add* the \sc Lord\sc* liveth, and \add as\add* my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there \add also\add* will thy servant be.  
\v 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 \add were\add* with him.  
\v 23 And all the country wept \add with\add* a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also \add himself\add* passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.  
\v 24 And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites \add were\add* 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.  
\v 25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God \add into\add* the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the \sc Lord\sc*, he will bring me again, and shew me \add both\add* it, and his habitation:  
\v 26 but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, \add here am\add* I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.  
\v 27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, \add Art not\add* thou a seer? return \add into\add* the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.  
\v 28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.  
\v 29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again \add to\add* Jerusalem: and they tarried there.   
\p
\v 30 And David went up by the ascent of \add mount\add* Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that \add was\add* with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.  
\v 31 And \add one\add* told David, saying, Ahithophel \add is\add* among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O \sc Lord\sc*, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.  
\v 32 And it came to pass, that \add when\add* David was come to the top \add of the mount\add*, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite \add came\add* to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:  
\v 33 unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:  
\v 34 but if thou return \add to\add* the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I \add have been\add* thy father’s servant hitherto, so \add will\add* I now also \add be\add* thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.  
\v 35 And \add hast thou\add* not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, \add that\add* what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell \add it\add* to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.  
\v 36 Behold, \add they have\add* there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s \add son\add*, and Jonathan Abiathar’s \add son;\add* and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.  
\v 37 So Hushai David’s friend came \add into\add* the city, and Absalom came \add into\add* Jerusalem.   
\c 16  
\p
\v 1 And when David was a little past the top \add of the hill\add*, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred \add loaves of\add* bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.  
\v 2 And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses \add be\add* for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.  
\v 3 And the king said, And where \add is\add* thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.  
\v 4 Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine \add are\add* all that \add pertained\add* unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee \add that\add* I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.   
\p
\v 5 And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name \add was\add* Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.  
\v 6 And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty \add men were\add* on his right hand and on his left.  
\v 7 And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:  
\v 8 the \sc Lord\sc* hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the \sc Lord\sc* hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou \add art taken\add* to thy mischief, because thou \add art\add* a bloody man.  
\v 9 Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.  
\v 10 And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the \sc Lord\sc* hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?  
\v 11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now \add may this\add* Benjamite \add do it?\add* let him alone, and let him curse; for the \sc Lord\sc* hath bidden him.  
\v 12 It may be that the \sc Lord\sc* will look on mine affliction, and that the \sc Lord\sc* will requite me good for his cursing this day.  
\v 13 And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.  
\v 14 And the king, and all the people that \add were\add* with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.   
\p
\v 15 And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came \add to\add* Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.  
\v 16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.  
\v 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, \add Is\add* this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?  
\v 18 And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the \sc Lord\sc*, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.  
\v 19 And again, whom should I serve? \add should I\add* not \add serve\add* in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.   
\p
\v 20 Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.  
\v 21 And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that \add are\add* with thee be strong.  
\v 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.  
\v 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, \add was\add* as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so \add was\add* all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.   
\c 17  
\p
\v 1 Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David \add this\add* night:  
\v 2 and I will come upon him while he \add is\add* weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that \add are\add* with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:  
\v 3 and I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest \add is\add* as if all returned: \add so\add* all the people shall be \add in\add* peace.  
\v 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.  
\v 5 Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.  
\v 6 And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do \add after\add* his saying? if not; speak thou.  
\v 7 And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given \add is\add* not good at this time.  
\v 8 For, (said Hushai,) thou knowest thy father and his men, that they \add be\add* mighty \add men\add*, and they \add be\add* chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father \add is\add* a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.  
\v 9 Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some \add other\add* place: and it will come to pass, when \add some\add* of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth \add it\add* will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.  
\v 10 And he also \add that is\add* valiant, whose heart \add is\add* as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father \add is\add* a mighty \add man\add*, and \add they\add* which \add be\add* with him \add are\add* valiant men.  
\v 11 Therefore I counsel \add that\add* all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that \add is\add* by the sea for multitude; and \add that\add* thou go to battle in thine own person.  
\v 12 So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we \add will light\add* upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that \add are\add* with him there shall not be left so much as one.  
\v 13 Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.  
\v 14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite \add is\add* better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the \sc Lord\sc* had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the \sc Lord\sc* might bring evil upon Absalom.   
\p
\v 15 Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.  
\v 16 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not \add this\add* night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that \add are\add* with him.  
\v 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.  
\v 18 Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.  
\v 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.  
\v 20 And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where \add is\add* Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find \add them\add*, they returned \add to\add* Jerusalem.  
\v 21 And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.  
\v 22 Then David arose, and all the people that \add were\add* with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one \add of them\add* that was not gone over Jordan.   
\p
\v 23 And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled \add his\add* ass, and arose, and gat him \add home\add* to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.  
\v 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.  
\v 25 And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa \add was\add* a man’s son, whose name \add was\add* Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mother.  
\v 26 So Israel and Absalom pitched \add in\add* the land of Gilead.  
\v 27 And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,  
\v 28 brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched \add corn\add*, and beans, and lentiles, and parched \add pulse\add*,  
\v 29 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that \add were\add* with him, to eat: for they said, The people \add is\add* hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.   
\c 18  
\p
\v 1 And David numbered the people that \add were\add* with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.  
\v 2 And 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.  
\v 3 But 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 \add thou art\add* worth ten thousand of us: therefore now \add it is\add* better that thou succour us out of the city.  
\v 4 And 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.  
\v 5 And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, \add Deal\add* gently for my sake with the young man, \add even\add* with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.  
\v 6 So the people went out \add into\add* the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;  
\v 7 where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day \add of\add* twenty thousand \add men\add*.  
\v 8 For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.  
\v 9 And 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 \add was\add* under him went away.  
\v 10 And a certain man saw \add it\add*, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.  
\v 11 And Joab said unto the man that told him, And behold, thou sawest \add him\add*, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten \add shekels of\add* silver, and a girdle.  
\v 12 And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand \add shekels of\add* silver in mine hand, \add yet\add* 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 \add that\add* none \add touch\add* the young man Absalom.  
\v 13 Otherwise 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 \add me\add*.  
\v 14 Then 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 \add was\add* yet alive in the midst of the oak.  
\v 15 And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.  
\v 16 And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.  
\v 17 And 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.  
\v 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which \add is\add* 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.   
\p
\v 19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the \sc Lord\sc* hath avenged him of his enemies.  
\v 20 And Joab said unto him, Thou \add shalt\add* 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.  
\v 21 Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.  
\v 22 Then 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?  
\v 23 But howsoever, \add said he\add*, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran \add by\add* the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.  
\v 24 And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went \add up\add* to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lift up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.  
\v 25 And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he \add be\add* alone, \add there is\add* tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.  
\v 26 And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold \add another\add* man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.  
\v 27 And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost \add is\add* like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He \add is\add* a good man, and cometh with good tidings.  
\v 28 And 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 \add be\add* the \sc Lord\sc* thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lift up their hand against my lord the king.  
\v 29 And the king said, \add Is\add* the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and \add me\add* thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what \add it was\add*.  
\v 30 And the king said \add unto him\add*, Turn aside, \add and\add* stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.  
\v 31 And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the \sc Lord\sc* hath avenged thee \add this\add* day of all them that rose up against thee.  
\v 32 And the king said unto Cushi, \add Is\add* the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do \add thee\add* hurt, be as \add that\add* young man \add is\add*.  
\v 33 And 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.   
\c 19  
\p
\v 1 And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.  
\v 2 And the victory that day was \add turned\add* into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day \add how\add* the king was grieved for his son.  
\v 3 And the people gat them by stealth that day \add into\add* the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.  
\v 4 But the king covered his face, and the king cried \add with\add* a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son.  
\v 5 And Joab came \add into\add* the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed \add this\add* day the faces of all thy servants, which \add this\add* 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;  
\v 6 in that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends: for thou hast declared \add this\add* day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for \add this\add* day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died \add this\add* day, then it had pleased thee well.  
\v 7 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the \sc Lord\sc*, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee \add this\add* night: and that \add will be\add* worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.  
\v 8 Then the king rose, 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.   
\p
\v 9 And 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.  
\v 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?  
\v 11 And 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, \add even\add* to his house.  
\v 12 Ye \add are\add* my brethren, ye \add are\add* my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?  
\v 13 And say ye to Amasa, \add Art\add* thou not \add of\add* my bone, and \add of\add* 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.  
\v 14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, \add even\add* as \add the heart of\add* one man; so that they sent \add this word\add* unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.  
\v 15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.   
\p
\v 16 And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which \add was\add* of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.  
\v 17 And \add there were\add* a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.  
\v 18 And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king’s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;  
\v 19 and said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember \add that\add* which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take \add it\add* to his heart.  
\v 20 For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first \add this\add* day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.  
\v 21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the \sc Lord’s\sc* anointed?  
\v 22 And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should \add this\add* day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death \add this\add* day in Israel? for do not I know that I \add am this\add* day king over Israel?  
\v 23 Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.   
\p
\v 24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came \add again\add* in peace.  
\v 25 And it came to pass, when he was come \add to\add* Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?  
\v 26 And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant \add is\add* lame.  
\v 27 And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king \add is\add* as an angel of God: do therefore what \add is\add* good in thine eyes.  
\v 28 For all \add of\add* my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?  
\v 29 And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.  
\v 30 And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come \add again\add* in peace unto his own house.   
\p
\v 31 And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him \add over\add* Jordan.  
\v 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, \add even\add* fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he \add was\add* a very great man.  
\v 33 And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.  
\v 34 And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king \add unto\add* Jerusalem?  
\v 35 I \add am this\add* day fourscore years old: \add and\add* can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing \add men\add* and singing \add women?\add* wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?  
\v 36 Thy servant will go a little \add way\add* over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense \add it\add* me \add with\add* such a reward?  
\v 37 Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, \add and be buried\add* by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.  
\v 38 And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him \add that\add* which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, \add that\add* will I do for thee.  
\v 39 And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.  
\v 40 Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.   
\p
\v 41 And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David’s men with him, over Jordan?  
\v 42 And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king \add is\add* near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king’s \add cost?\add* or hath he given us \add any\add* gift?  
\v 43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more \add right\add* in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.   
\c 20  
\p
\v 1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name \add was\add* Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.  
\v 2 So every man of Israel went up from after David, \add and\add* followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.  
\v 3 And David came to his house \add at\add* Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women \add his\add* concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them \add in\add* ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.  
\v 4 Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah \add within\add* three days, and be thou here present.  
\v 5 So Amasa went to assemble \add the men of\add* Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.  
\v 6 And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than \add did\add* Absalom: take thou thy lord’s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.  
\v 7 And there went out after him Joab’s men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty \add men:\add* and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.  
\v 8 When they \add were\add* at the great stone which \add is\add* in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab’s garment that he had put on \add was\add* girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.  
\v 9 And Joab said to Amasa, \add Art\add* thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.  
\v 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that \add was\add* in Joab’s hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth \add rib\add*, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and strake him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.  
\v 11 And one of Joab’s men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that \add is\add* for David, \add let him go\add* after Joab.  
\v 12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway \add into\add* the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.  
\v 13 When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.   
\p
\v 14 And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and \add to\add* Beth-maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.  
\v 15 And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that \add were\add* with Joab battered the wall, to throw \add it\add* down.  
\v 16 Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.  
\v 17 And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, \add Art\add* thou Joab? And he answered, I \add am he\add*. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.  
\v 18 Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask \add counsel\add* at Abel: and so they ended \add the matter\add*.  
\v 19 I \add am one of them that are\add* peaceable \add and\add* faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the \sc Lord\sc*?  
\v 20 And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.  
\v 21 The matter \add is\add* not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lift up his hand against the king, \add even\add* against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head \add shall be\add* thrown to thee over the wall.  
\v 22 Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast \add it\add* out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned \add to\add* Jerusalem unto the king.   
\p
\v 23 Now Joab \add was\add* over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada \add was\add* over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:  
\v 24 and Adoram \add was\add* over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud \add was\add* recorder:  
\v 25 and Sheva \add was\add* scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar \add were\add* the priests:  
\v 26 and Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.   
\c 21  
\p
\v 1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the \sc Lord\sc*. And the \sc Lord\sc* answered, \add It is\add* for Saul, and for \add his\add* bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.  
\v 2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites \add were\add* not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)  
\v 3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the \sc Lord\sc*?  
\v 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us \add shalt thou\add* kill any man in Israel. And he said, What you shall say, \add that\add* will I do for you.  
\v 5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us \add that\add* we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,  
\v 6 let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the \sc Lord\sc* in Gibeah of Saul, whom the \sc Lord\sc* did choose. And the king said, I will give \add them\add*.  
\v 7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the \sc Lord’s\sc* oath that \add was\add* between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.  
\v 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:  
\v 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the \sc Lord\sc*: and they fell \add all\add* seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first \add days\add*, in the beginning of barley harvest.  
\v 10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.  
\v 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.  
\v 12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:  
\v 13 and he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.  
\v 14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.   
\p
\v 15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.  
\v 16 And Ishbi-benob, which \add was\add* of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear \add weighed\add* three hundred \add shekels\add* of brass \add in\add* weight, he being girded \add with\add* a new \add sword\add*, thought to have slain David.  
\v 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.  
\v 18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which \add was\add* of the sons of the giant.  
\v 19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim, a Beth-lehemite, slew \add the brother of\add* Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear \add was\add* like a weaver’s beam.  
\v 20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of \add great\add* stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty \add in\add* number; and he also was born to the giant.  
\v 21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.  
\v 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.   
\c 22  
\p
\v 1 And David spake unto the \sc Lord\sc* the words of this song in the day \add that\add* the \sc Lord\sc* had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:  
\v 2 and he said,  
\q1 The \sc Lord\sc* \add is\add* my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;   
\q1
\v 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust:  
\q1 \add He is\add* my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge,  
\q1 My saviour; thou savest me from violence.   
\q1
\v 4 I will call on the \sc Lord\sc*, who is \add worthy\add* to be praised:  
\q1 So shall I be saved from mine enemies.   
\q1
\v 5 When the waves of death compassed me,  
\q1 The floods of ungodly men made me afraid;   
\q1
\v 6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about;  
\q1 The snares of death prevented me:   
\q1
\v 7 In my distress I called upon the \sc Lord\sc*,  
\q1 And cried to my God:  
\q1 And he did hear my voice out of his temple,  
\q1 And my cry \add did enter\add* into his ears.   
\q1
\v 8 Then the earth shook and trembled;  
\q1 The foundations of heaven moved  
\q1 And shook, because he was wroth.   
\q1
\v 9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,  
\q1 And fire out of his mouth devoured:  
\q1 Coals were kindled by it.   
\q1
\v 10 He bowed the heavens also, and came down;  
\q1 And darkness \add was\add* under his feet.   
\q1
\v 11 And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:  
\q1 And he was seen upon the wings of the wind.   
\q1
\v 12 And he made darkness pavilions round about him,  
\q1 Dark waters, \add and\add* thick clouds of the skies.   
\q1
\v 13 Through the brightness before him  
\q1 Were coals of fire kindled.   
\q1
\v 14 The \sc Lord\sc* thundered from heaven,  
\q1 And the most High uttered his voice.   
\q1
\v 15 And he sent out arrows, and scattered them;  
\q1 Lightning, and discomfited them.   
\q1
\v 16 And the channels of the sea appeared,  
\q1 The foundations of the world were discovered,  
\q1 At the rebuking of the \sc Lord\sc*,  
\q1 At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.   
\q1
\v 17 He sent from above, he took me;  
\q1 He drew me out of many waters;   
\q1
\v 18 He delivered me from my strong enemy,  
\q1 \add And\add* from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.   
\q1
\v 19 They prevented me in the day of my calamity:  
\q1 But the \sc Lord\sc* was my stay.   
\q1
\v 20 He brought me forth also into a large place:  
\q1 He delivered me, because he delighted in me.   
\q1
\v 21 The \sc Lord\sc* rewarded me according to my righteousness:  
\q1 According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.   
\q1
\v 22 For I have kept the ways of the \sc Lord\sc*,  
\q1 And have not wickedly departed from my God.   
\q1
\v 23 For all his judgments \add were\add* before me:  
\q1 And \add as for\add* his statutes, I did not depart from them.   
\q1
\v 24 I was also upright before him,  
\q1 And have kept myself from mine iniquity.   
\q1
\v 25 Therefore the \sc Lord\sc* hath recompensed me according to my righteousness;  
\q1 According to my cleanness in his eye sight.   
\q1
\v 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful,  
\q1 \add And\add* with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.   
\q1
\v 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure;  
\q1 And with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.   
\q1
\v 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save:  
\q1 But thine eyes \add are\add* upon the haughty, \add that\add* thou mayest bring \add them\add* down.   
\q1
\v 29 For thou \add art\add* my lamp, O \sc Lord\sc*:  
\q1 And the \sc Lord\sc* will lighten my darkness.   
\q1
\v 30 For by thee I have run \add through\add* a troop:  
\q1 By my God have I leaped over a wall.   
\q1
\v 31 \add As for\add* God, his way \add is\add* perfect;  
\q1 The word of the \sc Lord\sc* \add is\add* tried:  
\q1 He \add is\add* a buckler to all them that trust in him.   
\q1
\v 32 For who \add is\add* God, save the \sc Lord\sc*?  
\q1 And who \add is\add* a rock, save our God?   
\q1
\v 33 God \add is\add* my strength \add and\add* power:  
\q1 And he maketh my way perfect.   
\q1
\v 34 He maketh my feet like hinds’ \add feet:\add*  
\q1 And setteth me upon my high places.   
\q1
\v 35 He teacheth my hands to war;  
\q1 So that a bow of steel is broken \add by\add* mine arms.   
\q1
\v 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation:  
\q1 And thy gentleness hath made me great.   
\q1
\v 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me;  
\q1 So that my feet did not slip.   
\q1
\v 38 I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them;  
\q1 And turned not again until I had consumed them.   
\q1
\v 39 And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise:  
\q1 Yea, they are fallen under my feet.   
\q1
\v 40 For thou hast girded me with strength to battle:  
\q1 Them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.   
\q1
\v 41 Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies,  
\q1 That I might destroy them that hate me.   
\q1
\v 42 They looked, but \add there was\add* none to save;  
\q1 \add Even\add* unto the \sc Lord\sc*, but he answered them not.   
\q1
\v 43 Then did I beat them \add as\add* small as the dust of the earth,  
\q1 I did stamp them as the mire of the street, \add and\add* did spread them abroad.   
\q1
\v 44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people,  
\q1 Thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen:  
\q1 A people \add which\add* I knew not shall serve me.   
\q1
\v 45 Strangers shall submit themselves unto me:  
\q1 As soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.   
\q1
\v 46 Strangers shall fade away,  
\q1 And they shall be afraid out of their close places.   
\q1
\v 47 The \sc Lord\sc* liveth; and blessed \add be\add* my rock;  
\q1 And exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.   
\q1
\v 48 \add It is\add* God that avengeth me,  
\q1 And that bringeth down the people under me,   
\q1
\v 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies:  
\q1 Thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me:  
\q1 Thou hast delivered me from the violent man.   
\q1
\v 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O \sc Lord\sc*, among the heathen,  
\q1 And I will sing praises unto thy name.   
\q1
\v 51 \add He is\add* the tower of salvation for his king:  
\q1 And sheweth mercy to his anointed,  
\q1 Unto David, and to his seed for evermore.   
\c 23  
\p
\v 1 Now these \add be\add* the last words of David.  
\q1 David the son of Jesse said,  
\q1 And the man \add who\add* was raised up on high,  
\q1 The anointed of the God of Jacob,  
\q1 And the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,   
\q1
\v 2 The Spirit of the \sc Lord\sc* spake by me,  
\q1 And his word \add was\add* in my tongue.   
\q1
\v 3 The God of Israel said,  
\q1 The Rock of Israel spake to me,  
\q1 He that ruleth over men \add must be\add* just,  
\q1 Ruling \add in\add* the fear of God.   
\q1
\v 4 And \add he shall be\add* as the light of the morning, \add when\add* the sun riseth,  
\q1 \add Even\add* a morning without clouds;  
\q1 \add As\add* the tender grass \add springing\add* out of the earth  
\q1 By clear shining after rain.   
\q1
\v 5 Although my house \add be\add* not so with God;  
\q1 Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant,  
\q1 Ordered in all \add things\add*, and sure:  
\q1 For \add this is\add* all my salvation, and all \add my\add* desire,  
\q1 Although he make \add it\add* not to grow.   
\q1
\v 6 But \add the sons of\add* Belial \add shall be\add* all of them as thorns thrust away,  
\q1 Because they cannot be taken with hands:   
\q1
\v 7 But the man \add that\add* shall touch them must be fenced \add with\add* iron and the staff of a spear;  
\q1 And they shall be utterly burnt with fire in the same place.   
\p
\v 8 These \add be\add* the names of the mighty \add men\add* whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same \add was\add* Adino the Eznite: \add he lift up his spear\add* against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.  
\v 9 And after him \add was\add* Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, \add one\add* of the three mighty \add men\add* with David, when they defied the Philistines \add that\add* were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:  
\v 10 he arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the \sc Lord\sc* wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.  
\v 11 And after him \add was\add* Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full \add of\add* lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.  
\v 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the \sc Lord\sc* wrought a great victory.  
\v 13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.  
\v 14 And David \add was\add* then in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines \add was\add* then \add in\add* Beth-lehem.  
\v 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink \add of\add* the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which \add is\add* by the gate.  
\v 16 And the three mighty \add men\add* brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that \add was\add* by the gate, and took \add it\add*, and brought \add it\add* to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the \sc Lord\sc*.  
\v 17 And he said, Be it far from me, O \sc Lord\sc*, that I should do this: \add is not this\add* the blood of the men that went in \add jeopardy of\add* their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These \add things\add* did \add these\add* three mighty \add men\add*.  
\v 18 And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, \add was\add* chief among three. And he lift up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.  
\v 19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the \add first\add* three.  
\v 20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:  
\v 21 and he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.  
\v 22 These \add things\add* did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty \add men\add*.  
\v 23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the \add first\add* three. And David set him over his guard.   
\p
\v 24 Asahel the brother of Joab \add was\add* one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo \add of\add* Beth-lehem,  
\v 25 Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,  
\v 26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,  
\v 27 Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,  
\v 28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,  
\v 29 Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,  
\v 30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,  
\v 31 Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,  
\v 32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, \add of\add* the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,  
\v 33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,  
\v 34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,  
\v 35 Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,  
\v 36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,  
\v 37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,  
\v 38 Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,  
\v 39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven \add in\add* all.   
\c 24  
\p
\v 1 And again the anger of the \sc Lord\sc* was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.  
\v 2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which \add was\add* with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.  
\v 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the \sc Lord\sc* thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and \add that\add* the eyes of my lord the king may see \add it:\add* but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?  
\v 4 Notwithstanding the king’s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people \add of\add* Israel.  
\v 5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, \add on\add* the right side of the city that \add lieth\add* in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:  
\v 6 then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and about to Zidon,  
\v 7 and came \add to\add* the strong hold of Tyre, and \add to\add* all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, \add even to\add* Beer-sheba.  
\v 8 So when they had gone through all the land, they came \add to\add* Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.  
\v 9 And Joab gave \add up\add* the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah \add were\add* five hundred thousand men.   
\p
\v 10 And David’s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the \sc Lord\sc*, I have sinned greatly \add in\add* that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O \sc Lord\sc*, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.  
\v 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the \sc Lord\sc* came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,  
\v 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the \sc Lord\sc*, I offer thee three \add things;\add* choose thee one of them, that I may do \add it\add* unto thee.  
\v 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return \add to\add* him that sent me.  
\v 14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the \sc Lord\sc*; for his mercies \add are\add* great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.  
\v 15 So the \sc Lord\sc* sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.   
\p
\v 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand \add upon\add* Jerusalem to destroy it, the \sc Lord\sc* repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, \add It is\add* enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the \sc Lord\sc* was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.  
\v 17 And David spake unto the \sc Lord\sc* when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house.  
\v 18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the \sc Lord\sc* in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.  
\v 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the \sc Lord\sc* commanded.  
\v 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king \add on\add* his face upon the ground.  
\v 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the \sc Lord\sc*, that the plague may be stayed from the people.  
\v 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, \add here be\add* oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and \add other\add* instruments of the oxen for wood.  
\v 23 All \add these things\add* did Araunah, \add as\add* a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The \sc Lord\sc* thy God accept thee.  
\v 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy \add it\add* of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the \sc Lord\sc* my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.  
\v 25 And David built there an altar unto the \sc Lord\sc*, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the \sc Lord\sc* was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.