2 Samuel 11:18-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 11
18Then Joab sent a messenger and reported to David all the events of the war. 19He ordered the messenger, saying, 'When you have finished telling all the events of the war to the king, 20then it shall be that if the king’s wrath rises and he says to you, ‘Why did you move against the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?King James Version
Chapter 11
18Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war; 19And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king, 20And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 11
18Joab sent someone to report to David all the details of the battle. 19He commanded the messenger, "When you've finished telling the king all the details of the battle-- 20if the king's anger gets stirred up and he asks you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you realize they would shoot from the top of the wall?New Living Translation
English Standard Version
Chapter 11
18Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting. 19And he instructed the messenger, “When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, 20then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, ‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?New International Version
Chapter 11
18Joab sent David a full account of the battle. 19He instructed the messenger: 'When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, 20the king's anger may flare up, and he may ask you, 'Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn't you know they would shoot arrows from the wall?New King James Version