2 Samuel 14:1-6
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 14
1Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was drawn toward Absalom. 2So Joab sent a messenger to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, 'Please follow mourning rites, and put on mourning garments now, and do not anoint yourself with oil but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for many days. 3Then go to the king and speak to him in this way.' So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4Now when the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and prostrated herself, and said, 'Help, O king!'
5And the king said to her, 'What is troubling you?' And she answered, 'Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead.
6And your servant had two sons, but the two of them fought in the field, and there was no one to save them from each other, so one struck the other and killed him.
King James Version
Chapter 14
1Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom. 2And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched 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 thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead: 3And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth. 4And 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. 5And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. 6And 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.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 14
1Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king's mind was on Absalom. 2So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, "Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don't put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 3Go to the king and speak these words to him." Then Joab told her exactly what to say.New Living Translation
Chapter 14
1Joab realized how much the king longed to see Absalom. 2So he sent for a woman from Tekoa who had a reputation for great wisdom. He said to her, 'Pretend you are in mourning; wear mourning clothes and don’t put on lotions. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time. 3Then go to the king and tell him the story I am about to tell you.' Then Joab told her what to say.English Standard Version
Chapter 14
1Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart went out to Absalom. 2And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead. 3Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
4When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, “Save me, O king.”
5And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.
6And your servant had two sons, and they quarreled with one another in the field. There was no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him.
New International Version
Chapter 14
1Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart longed for Absalom. 2So Joab sent someone to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought from there. He said to her, 'Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don't use any cosmetic lotions. Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. 3Then go to the king and speak these words to him.' And Joab put the words in her mouth.New King James Version