2 Samuel 19:7-14
New American Standard Bible
8So the king got up and sat at the gate. When they told all the people, saying, 'Behold, the king is sitting at the gate,' then all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled, each to his tent.
9And all the people were quarreling throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, 'The king rescued us from the hands of our enemies and saved us from the hands of the Philistines, but now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
10However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now then, why are you silent about bringing the king back?'
11Then King David sent word to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, 'Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the word of all Israel has come to the king, even to his house?
12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? May God do so to me, and more so, if you will not be commander of the army for me continually, in place of Joab.’?'
14So he turned the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, saying, 'Return, you and all your servants.'
King James Version
Chapter 19
7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now. 8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
10And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
12Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
14And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
Christian Standard Bible
8So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told, "Look, the king is sitting in the city gate." Then they all came into the king's presence.Meanwhile, each Israelite had fled to his tent.
9People throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves, saying, "The king rescued us from the grasp of our enemies, and he saved us from the grasp of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
10But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king? "
11King David sent word to the priests Zadok and Abiathar: "Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace? The talk of all Israel has reached the king at his house.
12You are my brothers, my flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king? '
13And tell Amasa, 'Aren't you my flesh and blood? May God punish me and do so severely if you don't become commander of my army from now on instead of Joab! ' "
New Living Translation
8So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him. Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.
9And throughout all the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, 'The king rescued us from our enemies and saved us from the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country.
10Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, is dead. Why not ask David to come back and be our king again?'
11Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, 'Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready.
12You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?'
13And David told them to tell Amasa, 'Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 19
7Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” 8Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his own home.
9And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom.
10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?”
11And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king?
12You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab.’”
14And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”
New International Version
9Throughout the tribes of Israel, all the people were arguing among themselves, saying, 'The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies; he is the one who rescued us from the hand of the Philistines. But now he has fled the country to escape from Absalom;
10and Absalom, whom we anointed to rule over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?'
11King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: 'Ask the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
12You are my relatives, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to bring back the king?'
13And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my own flesh and blood? May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you are not the commander of my army for life in place of Joab.''
New King James Version
9Now all the people were in a dispute throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “The king saved us from the hand of our enemies, he delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.
10But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. Now therefore, why do you say nothing about bringing back the king?”
11So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?
12You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?’
13And say to Amasa, ‘ Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.’ ”
14So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants!”