2 Samuel - douay rheims

Chapter 14

¹ And Joab the son of Sarvia, understanding that the king's heart was turned to Absalom,
² Sent to Thecua, and fetched from thence a wise woman: and said to her: Feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, and be not anointed with oil, that thou mayest be as a woman that had a long time been mourning for one dead.
³ And thou shalt go in to the king, and shalt speak to him in this manner. And Joab put the words in her mouth.
⁴ And when the woman of Thecua was come in to the king, she fell before him upon the ground, and worshipped, and said: Save me, O king.
⁵ And the king said to her: What is the matter with thee? She answered: Alas, I am a widow woman: for my husband is dead.
⁶ And thy handmaid had two sons: and they quarrelled with each other in the field, and there was none to part them: and the one struck the other, and slew him.
⁷ And behold the whole kindred rising against thy handmaid, saith: Deliver him that hath slain his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother, whom he slew, and that we may destroy the heir: and they seek to quench my spark which is left, and will leave my husband no name, nor remainder upon the earth.
⁸ And the king said to the woman: Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
⁹ And the woman of Thecua said to the king: Upon me, my lord, be the iniquity, and upon the house of my father: but may the king and his throne be guiltless.
¹⁰ And the king said: If any one shall say ought against thee, bring him to me, and be shall not touch thee any more.
¹¹ And she said: Let the king remember the Lord his God, that the next of kin be not multiplied to take revenge, and that they may not kill my son. And he said: As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
¹² Then the woman said: Let thy handmaid speak one word to my lord the king. And he said: Speak.
¹³ And the woman said: Why hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, to sin, and not bring home again his own exile?
¹⁴ We all die, and like waters that return no more, we fall down into the earth: neither will God have a soul to perish, but recalleth, meaning that he that is cast off should not altogether perish.
¹⁵ Now therefore I am come, to speak this word to my lord the king before the people. And thy handmaid said: I will speak to the king, it maybe the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
¹⁶ And the king hath hearkened to me to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of all that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
¹⁷ Then let thy handmaid say, that the word of the Lord the king be made as a sacrifice. For even as an angel of God, so is my lord the king, that he is neither moved with blessing nor cursing: wherefore the Lord thy God is also with thee.
¹⁸ And the king answering, said to the woman: Hide not from me the thing that I ask thee. And the woman said to him: Speak, my lord the king.
¹⁹ And the king said: Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? The woman answered, and said: By the health of thy soul, my lord, O king, it is neither on the left hand, nor on the right, in all these things which my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he commanded me, and he put all these words into the mouth of thy handmaid.
²⁰ That I should come about with this form of speech, thy servant Joab, commanded this: but thou, my lord, O king, art wise, according to the wisdom of ail angel of God, to understand all things upon earth.
²¹ And the king said to Joab: Behold I am appeased and have granted thy request: Go therefore and fetch back the boy Absalom.
²² And Joab falling down to the ground upon his face, adored, and blessed the king: and Joab said: This day thy servant hath understood, that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king: for thou hast fulfilled the request of thy servant.
²³ Then Joab arose and went to Gessur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
²⁴ But the king said: Let him return into his house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned into his house, and saw not the king's face.
²⁵ But in all Israel there was not a man so comely, and so exceedingly beautiful as Absalom: from the sole of the foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
²⁶ And when he polled his hair (now he was polled once a year, because his hair was burdensome to him) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred sicles, according to the common weight.
²⁷ And there were born to Absalom three sons: and one daughter, whose, name was Thamar, and she was very beautiful.
²⁸ And Absalom dwelt two years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
²⁹ He sent therefore to Joab, to send him to the king: but he would not come to him. And when he had sent the second time, and he would not come to him,
³⁰ He said to his servants: You know the field of Joab near my field, that hath a crop of barley: go now and set it on fire. So the servants of Absalom set the corn on fire. And Joab's servants coming with their garments rent, said: The servants of Absalom have set part of the field on fire.
³¹ Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said: Why have thy servants set my corn on fire?
³² And Absalom answered Joab: I sent to thee beseeching thee to come to me, that I might send thee to the king, to say to him: Wherefore am I come from Gessur? it had been better for me to be there: I beseech thee therefore that I may see the face of the king: and if he be mindful of my iniquity, let him kill me.
³³ So Joab going in to the king, told him all: and Absalom was called for, and he went in to the king: and prostrated himself on the ground before him: and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel - webster

Chapter 14

¹ Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was towards Absalom.
² And Joab sent to Tekoah, and brought thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
³ And come to the king, and speak in this manner to him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
⁴ And when the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
⁵ And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
⁶ And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.
⁷ And behold, the whole family hath risen against thy 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 so they will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.
⁸ And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
⁹ And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
¹⁰ And the king said, Whoever saith aught to thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
¹¹ Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
¹² Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word to my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
¹³ And the woman said, Why then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one who is faulty, in that the king doth not bring home again his banished.
¹⁴ For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
¹⁵ Now therefore that I have come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
¹⁶ For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid from the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
¹⁷ Then thy handmaid said, The word of my lord the king, will now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.
¹⁸ Then the king answered and said to 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.
¹⁹ And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid:
²⁰ To bring about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are on the earth.
²¹ And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.
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.
²³ So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
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.
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.
²⁶ And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
²⁷ And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
²⁸ So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.
²⁹ Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, that he might send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.
³⁰ Therefore he said to 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.
³¹ Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom, to his house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my field on fire?
³² And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent to thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me had I been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there is any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
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.

2 Samuel - world english bible

Chapter 14

¹ Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
² sent to Tekoa, and fetched there a wise woman, and said to her, "Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don't anoint yourself with oil, but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
³ in to the king, and speak like this to him." So Joab put the words in her mouth.
⁴ the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, "Help, O king!"
⁵ king said to her, "What ails you?" She answered, "Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
⁶ handmaid had two sons, and they both fought together in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other, and killed him.
⁷ the whole family has risen against your handmaid, and they say, 'Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also.' Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth."
⁸ king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you."
⁹ woman of Tekoa said to the king, "My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless."
¹⁰ king said, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall not touch you any more."
¹¹ she said, "Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son." He said, "As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth."
¹² the woman said, "Please let your handmaid speak a word to my lord the king." He said, "Say on."
¹³ woman said, "Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring home again his banished one.
¹⁴ we must die, and are as water split on the ground, which can't be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.
¹⁵ therefore seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and your handmaid said, 'I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.'
¹⁶ the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
¹⁷ your handmaid said, 'Please let the word of my lord the king bring rest; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. May Yahweh, your God, be with you.'"
¹⁸ the king answered the woman, "Please don't hide anything from me that I ask you." The woman said, "Let my lord the king now speak."
¹⁹ king said, "Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered, "As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab, he urged me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your handmaid;
²⁰ change the face of the matter has your servant Joab done this thing. My lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth."
²¹ king said to Joab, "Behold now, I have done this thing. Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back."
²² fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant."
²³ Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
²⁴ king said, "Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face." So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn't see the king's face.
²⁵ 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.
²⁶ he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.
²⁷ Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a beautiful face.
²⁸ lived two full years in Jerusalem; and he didn't see the king's face.
²⁹ Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
³⁰ he said to his servants, "Behold, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." Absalom's servants set the field on fire.
³¹ Joab arose, and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"
³² answered Joab, "Behold, I sent to you, saying, 'Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me."'"
³³ 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.

2 Samuel - darby

Chapter 14

¹ And Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
² And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments, I pray, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead;
³ and come to the king, and speak after this manner to him. And Joab put the words into her mouth.
⁴ And the woman of Tekoah spoke to the king, and she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, Save, O king!
⁵ And the king said to her, What aileth thee? And she said, I am indeed a widow woman, and my husband is dead.
⁶ And thy bondmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other and slew him.
⁷ And behold, the whole family is risen against thy bondmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may put him to death, for the life of his brother whom he killed; and we will destroy the heir also: so they will quench my coal which is left, and will not leave to my husband a name or remnant on the earth.
⁸ And the king said to the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
⁹ And the woman of Tekoah said to the king, Upon me, my lord, O king, be the iniquity, and upon my father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.
¹⁰ And the king said, Whoever speaks to thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
¹¹ Then she said, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they cut off my son. And he said, [As] Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
¹² And the woman said, Let thy bondmaid, I pray thee, speak a word to my lord the king. And he said, Speak.
¹³ And the woman said, Why then hast thou thought such a thing against God's people? and the king in saying this thing, is as one guilty, in that the king does not bring back his banished one.
¹⁴ For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; and God has not taken away his life, but devises means that the banished one be not expelled from him.
¹⁵ And now that I am come to speak of this thing to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid; and thy bondmaid said, I will now speak to the king; perhaps the king will perform the request of his handmaid.
¹⁶ For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
¹⁷ And thy bondmaid said, Let the word of my lord the king now be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad; and Jehovah thy God will be with thee.
¹⁸ And the king answered and said to 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.
¹⁹ And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, [As] thy soul liveth, my lord, O king, there is no turning to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king has spoken; for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words into the mouth of thy bondmaid:
²⁰ in order to turn the appearance of the thing has thy servant Joab done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.
²¹ And the king said to Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: so go, bring back the young man Absalom.
²² And Joab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself, and blessed the king; and Joab said, To-day thy servant knows that I have found favour in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has fulfilled the request of his servant.
²³ And Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
²⁴ And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. And Absalom withdrew to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
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.
²⁶ And when he shaved his head (for it was at every year's end that he shaved it, because it was heavy on him, therefore he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.
²⁷ And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a beautiful countenance.
²⁸ So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and did not see the king's face.
²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him; and he sent again the second time, but he would not come.
³⁰ Then he said to his servants, See, Joab's allotment is near mine and he has barley there: go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the allotment on fire.
³¹ Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom to [his] house, and said to him, Why have thy servants set my allotment on fire?
³² And Absalom said to Joab, Behold, I sent to thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Why am I come from Geshur? it would have been better for me to be there still. And now let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him slay me.
³³ And Joab came to the king, and told him. And he called Absalom, and he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel - american standard version

Chapter 14

¹ Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.
² And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead:
³ and go in to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.
⁴ And when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.
⁵ And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
⁶ And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him.
⁷ And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.
⁸ And the king said unto the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
⁹ And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.
¹⁰ And the king said, Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.
¹¹ Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
¹² Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak a word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.
¹³ And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished one.
¹⁴ For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God take away life, but deviseth means, that he that is banished be not an outcast from him.
¹⁵ Now therefore seeing that I am come to speak this word unto my lord the king, it is 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 servant.
¹⁶ For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
¹⁷ Then thy handmaid said, Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Jehovah thy God be with thee.
¹⁸ Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, aught that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.
¹⁹ And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken; for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid;
²⁰ to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.
²¹ And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.
²² And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found favor in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the request of his servant.
²³ So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
²⁴ And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.
²⁵ Now 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.
²⁶ And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year's end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king's weight.
²⁷ And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
²⁸ And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king's face.
²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
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.
³¹ Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?
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? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.
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.

2 Samuel - basic english

Chapter 14

¹ Now it was clear to Joab, the son of Zeruiah, that the king's heart was turning to Absalom.
² And Joab sent to Tekoa and got from there a wise woman, and said to her, Now make yourself seem like one given up to grief, and put on the clothing of sorrow, not using any sweet oil for your body, but looking like one who for a long time has been weeping for the dead:
³ And come to the king and say these words to him. So Joab gave her words to say.
⁴ And the woman of Tekoa came to the king, and falling on her face, gave him honour and said, Give me help, O king.
⁵ And the king said to her, What is your trouble? And her answer was, Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
⁶ And I had two sons, and the two of them had a fight in the field, and there was no one to come between them, and one with a blow put the other to death.
⁷ And now all the family is turned against me, your servant, saying, Give up him who was the cause of his brother's death, so that we may put him to death in payment for the life of his brother, whose life he took; and we will put an end to the one who will get the heritage: so they will put out my last burning coal, and my husband will have no name or offspring on the face of the earth.
⁸ And the king said to the woman, Go to your house and I will give orders about this.
⁹ And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, My lord, O king, may the sin be on me and on my family, and may the king and the seat of his kingdom be clear of sin!
¹⁰ And the king said, If anyone says anything to you, make him come to me, and he will do you no more damage.
¹¹ Then she said, Let the king keep in mind the Lord your God, so that he who gives punishment for blood may be kept back from further destruction and that no one may send death on my son. And he said, By the living Lord, not a hair of your son's head will come to the earth.
¹² Then the woman said, Will the king let his servant say one word more? And he said, Say on.
¹³ And the woman said, Why have you had such a thought about the people of God? (for in saying these very words the king has put himself in the wrong because he has not taken back the one whom he sent far away.)
¹⁴ For death comes to us all, and we are like water drained out on the earth, which it is not possible to take up again; and God will not take away the life of the man whose purpose is that he who has been sent away may not be completely cut off from him.
¹⁵ And now it is my fear of the people which has made me come to say these words to my lord the king: and your servant said, I will put my cause before the king, and it may be that he will give effect to my request.
¹⁶ For the king will give ear, and take his servant out of the power of the man whose purpose is the destruction of me and my son together from the heritage of God.
¹⁷ Then your servant said, May the word of my lord the king give me peace! for my lord the king is as the angel of God in his hearing of good and bad: and may the Lord your God be with you!
¹⁸ Then the king said to the woman, Now give me an answer to the question I am going to put to you; keep nothing back. And the woman said, Let my lord the king say on.
¹⁹ And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this? And the woman in answer said, By the life of your soul, my lord the king, it is not possible for anyone to go to the right hand or to the left from anything said by the king: your servant Joab gave me orders, and put all these words in my mouth:
²⁰ This he did, hoping that the face of this business might be changed: and my lord is wise, with the wisdom of the angel of God, having knowledge of everything on earth.
²¹ And the king said to Joab, See now, I will do this thing: go then and Come back with the young man Absalom.
²² Then Joab, falling down on his face on the earth, gave the king honour and blessing; and Joab said, Today it is clear to your servant that I have grace in your eyes, my lord king, because the king has given effect to the request of his servant.
²³ So Joab got up and went to Geshur and came back again to Jerusalem with Absalom.
²⁴ And the king said, Let him go to his house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom went back to his house and did not see the face of the king.
²⁵ Now in all Israel there was no one so greatly to be praised for his beautiful form as Absalom: from his feet to the crown of his head he was completely beautiful.
²⁶ And when he had his hair cut, (which he did at the end of every year, because of the weight of his hair;) the weight of the hair was two hundred shekels by the king's weight.
²⁷ And Absalom was the father of three sons and of one daughter named Tamar, who was very beautiful.
²⁸ For two full years Absalom was living in Jerusalem without ever seeing the face of the king.
²⁹ Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king, but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
³⁰ So he said to his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley in it; go and put it on fire. And Absalom's servants put the field on fire.
³¹ Then Joab came to Absalom in his house and said to him, Why have your servants put my field on fire?
³² And Absalom's answer was, See, I sent to you saying, Come here, so that I may send you to the king to say, Why have I come back from Geshur? it would be better for me to be there still: let me now see the king's face, and if there is any sin in me, let him put me to death.
³³ So Joab went to the king and said these words to him: and when the king had sent for him, Absalom came, and went down on his face on the earth before the king: and the king gave him a kiss.