1 Joab|strong="H3097" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zeruiah|strong="H6870" knew|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" King|strong="H4428" David missed Absalom|strong="H0053" very|strong="H3045" much|strong="H5921".
2 So|strong="H3947" Joab|strong="H3097" sent|strong="H7971" messengers to|strong="H0413" Tekoa|strong="H8620" to|strong="H0413" bring|strong="H3947" a|strong="H1961" wise|strong="H2450" woman|strong="H0802" from|strong="H5921" there|strong="H8033". Joab|strong="H3097" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2088" wise|strong="H2450" woman|strong="H0802", “Please|strong="H4994" pretend|strong="H0056" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H1961" very|strong="H2088" sad|strong="H0060". Put|strong="H4191" on|strong="H5921" sackcloth. Don’t|strong="H0408" dress|strong="H3847" up|strong="H5921". Act|strong="H1961" like|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" woman|strong="H0802" who|strong="H0802" has|strong="H1961" been|strong="H1961" crying many|strong="H7227" days|strong="H3117" for|strong="H5921" someone|strong="H4191" who|strong="H0802" died|strong="H4191".
3 Go|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H0935" talk|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413" using these|strong="H2088" words|strong="H1697" that|strong="H1697" I|strong="H7760" tell|strong="H1696" you|strong="H7760".” Then|strong="H1696" Joab|strong="H3097" told|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" wise woman|strong="H2088" what|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" say|strong="H1696".
4 Then|strong="H5307" the|strong="H0559" woman|strong="H0802" from|strong="H5921" Tekoa|strong="H8621" talked to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428". She bowed|strong="H7812" with|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413" face|strong="H0639" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" ground|strong="H0776". Then|strong="H5307" she said|strong="H0559", “King|strong="H4428", please help|strong="H3467" me|strong="H0413"!”
5 King|strong="H4428" David said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" her|strong="H0802", “What’s|strong="H4100" your|strong="H0559" problem?”
6 I|strong="H0259" had|strong="H0369" two|strong="H8147" sons|strong="H1121". They|strong="H0369" were|strong="H1121" out|strong="H8147" in|strong="H4191" the|strong="H0853" field|strong="H7704" fighting|strong="H5327". There|strong="H0369" was|strong="H0369" no|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0259" to|strong="H4191" stop them|strong="H0853". One|strong="H0259" son|strong="H1121" killed|strong="H5221" the|strong="H0853" other|strong="H0259" son|strong="H1121".
7 Now|strong="H2009" the|strong="H3605" whole|strong="H3605" family|strong="H4940" is|strong="H0834" against|strong="H5921" me|strong="H5414". They|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H5414", ‘Bring|strong="H5414" us|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" son who|strong="H0834" killed|strong="H2026" his|strong="H3605" brother|strong="H0251" and|strong="H6965" we|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" kill|strong="H2026" him|strong="H5414", because|strong="H5921" he|strong="H0834" killed|strong="H2026" his|strong="H3605" brother|strong="H0251".’ My|strong="H3605" son is|strong="H0834" like|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" last|strong="H6965" spark of|strong="H0376" a|strong="H5414" fire. If|strong="H2009" they|strong="H0834" kill|strong="H2026" my|strong="H3605" son, that|strong="H0834" fire will|strong="H0834" burn out|strong="H3423" and|strong="H6965" be|strong="H4191" finished. He|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" only|strong="H1571" son left|strong="H7604" alive|strong="H7604" to|strong="H0559" get|strong="H6965" his|strong="H3605" father’s property|strong="H0834". So|strong="H5414" my|strong="H3605" dead|strong="H4191" husband’s|strong="H0376" property|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" go|strong="H6965" to|strong="H0559" someone|strong="H0376" else|strong="H3605" and|strong="H6965" his|strong="H3605" name|strong="H8034" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H4191" removed from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0127".”
8 Then|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" woman|strong="H0802", “Go home|strong="H1004". I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H4428" take care|strong="H5921" of|strong="H4428" things for|strong="H5921" you|strong="H6680".”
9 The|strong="H0559" woman|strong="H0802" of|strong="H4428" Tekoa|strong="H8621" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428", “Let the|strong="H0559" blame|strong="H5771" be|strong="H0113" on|strong="H5921" me|strong="H0413", my|strong="H5921" lord|strong="H0113" and|strong="H4428" king|strong="H4428". You|strong="H5921" and|strong="H4428" your|strong="H5921" kingdom|strong="H4428" are|strong="H1004" innocent|strong="H5355".”
10 King|strong="H4428" David said|strong="H0559", “If anyone is|strong="H4428" saying|strong="H0559" bad things|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0935", bring|strong="H0935" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". They|strong="H3808" will|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3808" bother|strong="H5060" you|strong="H0935" again|strong="H5750".”
11 The|strong="H0853" woman said|strong="H0559", “Please|strong="H4994", use the|strong="H0853" name|strong="H0559" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" and|strong="H1121" swear that|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0518" will|strong="H3068" stop|strong="H3808" these people|strong="H1121". They|strong="H0518" want to|strong="H0559" punish my|strong="H3068" son|strong="H1121" for|strong="H0776" murdering his|strong="H3068" brother. Swear that|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0518" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" let|strong="H4994" them|strong="H0853" destroy|strong="H7843" my|strong="H3068" son|strong="H1121".”
12 The|strong="H0559" woman|strong="H0802" said|strong="H0559", “My|strong="H1696" lord|strong="H0113" and|strong="H4428" king|strong="H4428", please|strong="H4994" let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" say|strong="H0559" something|strong="H1697" else to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0413".”
13 Then|strong="H1696" the|strong="H0853" woman|strong="H0802" said|strong="H0559", “Why|strong="H4100" have|strong="H1697" you|strong="H5921" planned|strong="H2803" these|strong="H2088" things|strong="H1697" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H4428" God|strong="H0430"? When|strong="H1696" you|strong="H5921" say|strong="H0559" these|strong="H2088" things|strong="H1697", you|strong="H5921" show you|strong="H5921" are|strong="H4100" guilty|strong="H0818" because|strong="H5921" you|strong="H5921" have|strong="H1697" not|strong="H1115" brought|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" son who|strong="H0430" you|strong="H5921" forced to|strong="H0559" leave home|strong="H7725".
14 We|strong="H3588" will|strong="H0430" all|strong="H0622" die|strong="H4191" some|strong="H4480" day. We|strong="H3588" will|strong="H0430" be|strong="H4191" like|strong="H0834" water|strong="H4325" that|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" spilled|strong="H5064" on|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0834" ground|strong="H0776". No|strong="H3808" one|strong="H3808" can|strong="H0834" gather|strong="H0622" this|strong="H3588" water|strong="H4325" back from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0834" ground|strong="H0776". You|strong="H0834" know God|strong="H0430" forgives|strong="H5375" people|strong="H5315". God|strong="H0430" made|strong="H0834" plans|strong="H4284" for|strong="H3588" people|strong="H5315" who|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" forced to|strong="H4191" run away|strong="H5375" for|strong="H3588" safety—God|strong="H0430" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" force them|strong="H5375" to|strong="H4191" run away|strong="H5375" from|strong="H4480" him|strong="H4191"!
15 My|strong="H0834" lord|strong="H0113" and|strong="H0935" king|strong="H4428", I|strong="H0834" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" say|strong="H0559" these|strong="H2088" words|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834", because|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" made|strong="H6213" me|strong="H0413" afraid|strong="H3372". I|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" myself, ‘I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" talk|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428". Maybe|strong="H0194" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" will|strong="H0834" help|strong="H5971" me|strong="H0413".
16 The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" will|strong="H0430" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H8085" me|strong="H5337" and|strong="H1121" save|strong="H5337" me|strong="H5337" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" man|strong="H0376" who|strong="H0376" wants to|strong="H8085" kill me|strong="H5337" and|strong="H1121" my|strong="H8085" son|strong="H1121". That|strong="H3588" man|strong="H0376" just wants to|strong="H8085" keep|strong="H8085" us|strong="H3588" from|strong="H0376" getting what|strong="H3588" God|strong="H0430" gave|strong="H8085" us|strong="H3588".’
17 I|strong="H3588" know that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0559" words|strong="H1697" of|strong="H4428" my|strong="H8085" lord|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H8085" me|strong="H4994" rest|strong="H4496", because|strong="H3588" you|strong="H3588" are|strong="H1697" like|strong="H1961" an|strong="H1961" angel|strong="H4397" from|strong="H8085" God|strong="H0430". You|strong="H3588" know what|strong="H1697" is|strong="H3068" good|strong="H2896" and|strong="H3068" what|strong="H1697" is|strong="H3068" bad|strong="H7451". And|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" is|strong="H3068" with|strong="H5973" you|strong="H3588".”
18 King|strong="H4428" David answered|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" woman|strong="H0802", “You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" answer|strong="H6030" the|strong="H0853" question|strong="H1697" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" ask|strong="H7592" you|strong="H0834".”
19 The|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559", “Did|strong="H0834" Joab|strong="H3097" tell|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0559" say|strong="H0559" all|strong="H3605" these|strong="H0428" things|strong="H1697"?”
20 Joab|strong="H3097" did|strong="H6213" this|strong="H2088" so|strong="H6213" that|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0834" see|strong="H3045" things|strong="H1697" differently. My|strong="H3605" lord|strong="H0113", you|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" as|strong="H0834" wise|strong="H2450" as|strong="H0834" God’s|strong="H0430" angel|strong="H4397". You|strong="H0834" know|strong="H3045" everything|strong="H3605" that|strong="H0834" happens|strong="H6213" on|strong="H0776" earth|strong="H0776".”
21 The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", “Look|strong="H2009", I|strong="H2009" will|strong="H4428" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H1697" I|strong="H2009" promised|strong="H0559". Now|strong="H4994" please|strong="H4994" bring|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" young|strong="H5288" man|strong="H5288" Absalom|strong="H0053".”
22 Joab|strong="H3097" bowed|strong="H7812" with|strong="H0413" his|strong="H0834" face|strong="H6440" on|strong="H3117" the|strong="H0853" ground|strong="H0776". He|strong="H0834" blessed|strong="H1288" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3117", and|strong="H0776" said|strong="H0559", “Today|strong="H3117" I|strong="H0834" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" pleased|strong="H5869" with|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". I|strong="H0834" know|strong="H3045" because|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213" what|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" asked|strong="H0559".”
23 Then|strong="H6965" Joab|strong="H3097" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Geshur|strong="H1650" and|strong="H0935" brought|strong="H0935" Absalom|strong="H0053" to|strong="H0935" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
24 But|strong="H3808" King|strong="H4428" David said|strong="H0559", “Absalom|strong="H0053" must|strong="H3808" go|strong="H5437" back|strong="H5437" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7200" own|strong="H6440" house|strong="H1004". He|strong="H3808" cannot|strong="H3808" come|strong="H5437" to|strong="H0413" see|strong="H7200" me|strong="H0413".” So|strong="H3808" Absalom|strong="H0053" went|strong="H5437" back|strong="H5437" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7200" own|strong="H6440" house|strong="H1004", but|strong="H3808" he|strong="H3808" could not|strong="H3808" go|strong="H5437" to|strong="H0413" see|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428".
25 People|strong="H0376" really|strong="H3966" bragged about|strong="H1961" how good-looking Absalom|strong="H0053" was|strong="H1961". No|strong="H3808" man|strong="H0376" in|strong="H3478" Israel|strong="H3478" was|strong="H1961" as|strong="H5704" handsome|strong="H3303" as|strong="H5704" Absalom|strong="H0053". Every|strong="H3605" part of|strong="H0376" his|strong="H3605" body was|strong="H1961" perfect|strong="H3971"—from|strong="H0376" his|strong="H3605" head|strong="H6936" to|strong="H5704" his|strong="H3605" feet|strong="H7272".
26 At|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" end|strong="H7093" of|strong="H4428" every|strong="H3117" year|strong="H3117", Absalom cut|strong="H1548" the|strong="H0853" hair|strong="H8181" from|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" head|strong="H7218" and|strong="H3967" weighed|strong="H8254" it|strong="H5921". The|strong="H0853" hair|strong="H8181" weighed|strong="H8254" about|strong="H1961" five pounds.
27 Absalom|strong="H0053" had|strong="H1961" three|strong="H7969" sons|strong="H1121" and|strong="H1121" one|strong="H0259" daughter|strong="H1323". Her|strong="H0802" name|strong="H8034" was|strong="H8034" Tamar|strong="H8559", and|strong="H1121" she|strong="H1931" was|strong="H8034" a|strong="H1961" beautiful|strong="H3303" woman|strong="H0802".
28 Absalom|strong="H0053" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" for|strong="H3117" two|strong="H3808" full|strong="H3117" years|strong="H8141" without|strong="H3808" being allowed to|strong="H3389" visit|strong="H7200" King|strong="H4428" David|strong="H3117".
29 Absalom|strong="H0053" sent|strong="H7971" a|strong="H0935" message to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", asking for|strong="H0413" permission|strong="H7971" to|strong="H0413" see|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428", but|strong="H3808" Joab|strong="H3097" refused|strong="H0014" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H0935" see|strong="H0935" him|strong="H0413". So|strong="H7971" Absalom|strong="H0053" sent|strong="H7971" a|strong="H0935" second|strong="H8145" message to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097". Again|strong="H5750", Joab|strong="H3097" refused|strong="H0014" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H0935" see|strong="H0935" him|strong="H0413".
30 Then|strong="H0853" Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H7200" servants|strong="H5650", “Look|strong="H7200", Joab’s|strong="H3097" field|strong="H2513" is|strong="H3027" next|strong="H3027" to|strong="H0413" my|strong="H7200" field|strong="H2513". He|strong="H8033" has|strong="H5650" barley|strong="H8184" growing in|strong="H0413" that|strong="H7200" field|strong="H2513". Go burn|strong="H3341" the|strong="H0853" barley|strong="H8184".”
31 Joab|strong="H3097" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" and|strong="H0935" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Absalom’s|strong="H0053" house|strong="H1004". He|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “Why|strong="H4100" did|strong="H4100" your|strong="H0834" servants|strong="H5650" burn|strong="H3341" my|strong="H0834" field|strong="H2513"?”
32 Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Joab|strong="H3097", “I|strong="H0589" sent|strong="H7971" a|strong="H7200" message to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0518". I|strong="H0589" asked|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0518" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H0935" here|strong="H2009". I|strong="H0589" wanted to|strong="H0413" send|strong="H7971" you|strong="H0518" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" to|strong="H0413" ask|strong="H0559" him|strong="H0413" why|strong="H4100" he|strong="H0518" asked|strong="H0559" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H0935" home from|strong="H0935" Geshur|strong="H1650". I|strong="H0589" cannot see|strong="H7200" him|strong="H0413", so|strong="H7971" it|strong="H0518" would|strong="H0053" have|strong="H3426" been|strong="H6258" better|strong="H2896" for|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" stay in|strong="H0935" Geshur|strong="H1650". Now|strong="H6258" let|strong="H7971" me|strong="H0413" see|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428". If|strong="H0518" I|strong="H0589" have|strong="H3426" sinned, he|strong="H0518" can|strong="H4100" kill|strong="H4191" me|strong="H0413"!”
33 Then|strong="H0935" Joab|strong="H3097" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H0935" told|strong="H5046" him|strong="H0413" what|strong="H5921" Absalom|strong="H0053" said|strong="H0413". The|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428" called|strong="H7121" for|strong="H5921" Absalom|strong="H0053". Absalom|strong="H0053" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428" and|strong="H0935" bowed|strong="H7812" low|strong="H0776" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" ground|strong="H0776" before|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428". The|strong="H6440" king|strong="H4428" kissed|strong="H5401" him|strong="H0413".