2 Samuel 17:1-8
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 17
1Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, 'Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. 2And I will attack him while he is weary and exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, 3and I will bring all the people back to you. The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace.' 4And the plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5Nevertheless, Absalom said, 'Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what he has to say.'
6When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, 'Ahithophel has proposed this plan. Should we carry out his plan? If not, say so yourself.'
7So Hushai said to Absalom, 'This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good.'
8Then Hushai said, 'You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people.
King James Version
Chapter 17
1Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: 2And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: 3And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. 4And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel. 5Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith. 6And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou. 7And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time. 8For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 17
1Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out in pursuit of David tonight. 2I will attack him while he is weary and discouraged, throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will scatter. I will strike down only the king 3and bring all the people back to you. When everyone returns except the man you're looking for, all the people will be at peace." 4This proposal seemed right to Absalom and all the elders of Israel.New Living Translation
Chapter 17
1Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, 'Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. 2I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king, 3and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride returns to her husband. After all, it is only one man’s life that you seek. Then you will be at peace with all the people.' 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
5But then Absalom said, 'Bring in Hushai the Arkite. Let’s see what he thinks about this.'
6When Hushai arrived, Absalom told him what Ahithophel had said. Then he asked, 'What is your opinion? Should we follow Ahithophel’s advice? If not, what do you suggest?'
7Well,' Hushai replied to Absalom, 'this time Ahithophel has made a mistake.
8You know your father and his men; they are mighty warriors. Right now they are as enraged as a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs. And remember that your father is an experienced man of war. He won’t be spending the night among the troops.
English Standard Version
Chapter 17
1Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, 3and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” 4And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.”
6And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.”
7Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.”
8Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people.
New International Version
Chapter 17
1Ahithophel said to Absalom, 'I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 2I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king 3and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed.' 4This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.New King James Version
Chapter 17
1Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2I will come upon him while he is weary and weak, and make him afraid. And all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike only the king. 3Then I will bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people will be at peace.” 4And the saying pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he says too.”
6And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom spoke to him, saying, “Ahithophel has spoken in this manner. Shall we do as he says? If not, speak up.”
7So Hushai said to Absalom: “The advice that Ahithophel has given is not good at this time.
8For,” said Hushai, “you know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are enraged in their minds, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field; and your father is a man of war, and will not camp with the people.