1,683 verses contain “saying” (in the KJV: 1,523, in the BSB: 488) — showing 401–500
King James Bible KJV Bible
Berean Standard Bible BSB Bible
And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.
Therefore they sent the ark of God to
Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to
Ekron, that the Ekronites
cried out,
saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to
slay us and our people.
So they sent the ark of God to
Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites
cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”
And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,
saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us
wherewith we shall send it to his place.
the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.”
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim,
saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and
fetch it up to you.
So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”
And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel,
saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and
Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid
yourselves of the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between
Mizpah and Shen. He named it
Ebenezer,
saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel,
And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
They got up early in the morning, and just before
dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went outside together.
When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by
Rachel’s
sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The
asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the
asses, and sorroweth for you,
saying, What shall I do for my son?
When you leave me
today, you will find two men at
Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The
donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped
worrying about the
donkeys and started
worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a
proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the
saying became a
proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
And he took a yoke of oxen, and
hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers,
saying,
Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel,
proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of
anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man.
And
Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul
blew the
trumpet throughout all the land,
saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
Then
Jonathan attacked the
Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul
blew the ram’s horn throughout the land,
saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!”
And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had
adjured the people,
saying,
Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be
avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath,
saying, “
Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken
vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath,
saying,
Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were
faint.
Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath,
saying, ‘
Cursed is the man who eats food
today.’ That is why the people are
faint.”
Then they told Saul,
saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have
transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.
Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are
sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”
Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,
Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,
And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel,
saying, Saul came to
Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to
Gilgal.
Early in the morning Samuel got up to
confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to
Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to
Gilgal.”
And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the
Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
and sent you on a mission,
saying, ‘Go and
devote to destruction the sinful
Amalekites. Fight against them until you have
wiped them out.’
And Saul sent to
Jesse,
saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
Then Saul sent word to
Jesse,
saying, “Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”
And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to
defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will
enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
Now the men of Israel had been
saying, “Do you see this man who keeps coming out to
defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and
exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”
And David spake to the men that stood by him,
saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this
Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should
defy the armies of the living God?
David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this
Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this
uncircumcised Philistine, that he should
defy the armies of the living God?”
And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
And Saul was very
wroth, and the
saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
And Saul was
furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”
And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.
Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
And the servants told Saul what David had said.
But
Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and
Jonathan told David,
saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take
heed to
thyself until the morning, and
abide in a secret place, and hide
thyself:
so he
warned David,
saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there.
Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to
slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him,
saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to
morrow thou shalt be slain.
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal
warned him, “If you do not run for your life
tonight,
tomorrow you will be dead!”
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David,
saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may
slay him.
But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.”
And it was told Saul,
saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in
Ramah.
When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in
Ramah,
So
Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,
saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
So
Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,
saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”
And, behold, I will send a
lad,
saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the
lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no
hurt; as the LORD liveth.
Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.
And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
saying, ‘Please let me go, because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why he did not come to the king’s table.”
And
Jonathan said to David, Go in peace,
forasmuch as we have
sworn both of us in the name of the LORD,
saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and
Jonathan went into the city.
And
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have
sworn in the name of the LORD,
saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine
forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and
Jonathan went back into the city.
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
Then they told David,
saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they
rob the threshingfloors.
Now it was reported to David, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and
looting the
threshing floors.”
Therefore David enquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go and
smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and
smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah,
saying,
Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
But there came a
messenger unto Saul,
saying,
Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.
Then a
messenger came to Saul,
saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have
raided the land!”
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and
cried after Saul,
saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David
stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words,
saying, Behold, David seeketh thy
hurt?
and said to Saul, “Why do you
listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to
harm you’?
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and
wept.
When David had finished
saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul
wept aloud So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
So David’s men turned around and went back, and they relayed to him all these words.
But one of the young men told
Abigail, Nabal’s wife,
saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to
salute our master; and he railed on them.
Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife
Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to
greet our master, but he
scolded them.
Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that
pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
Now David had just finished saying, “In vain I have protected all that belonged to this man in the wilderness. Nothing that belongs to him has gone missing, yet he has paid me back evil for good.
And when the servants of David were come to
Abigail to
Carmel, they spake unto her,
saying, David sent us unto thee to take thee to him to wife.
When his servants came to
Abigail at
Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah,
saying,
Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?”
Then answered David and said to
Ahimelech the Hittite, and to
Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to
Joab,
saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And
Abishai said, I will go down with thee.
And David asked
Ahimelech the Hittite and
Abishai son of Zeruiah,
Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” “I will go with you,” answered
Abishai.
And David
cried to the people, and to
Abner the son of
Ner,
saying, Answerest thou not,
Abner? Then
Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?
And David
shouted to the troops and to
Abner son of
Ner, “Will you not answer me,
Abner?” “Who calls to the king?”
Abner replied.
Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have
stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men,
cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from
abiding in the inheritance of the LORD,
saying, Go, serve other gods.
Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has
stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be
cursed in the presence of the LORD! For
today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD,
saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’
And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring
tidings to
Gath,
saying, Lest they should tell on us,
saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
David did not leave a man or woman alive to be brought to
Gath, for he said, “Otherwise they will report us,
saying, ‘This is what David did.’” And this was David’s custom the whole time he lived in
Philistine territory.
And Achish believed David,
saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to
abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter
stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant
forever.”
And Saul
sware to her by the LORD,
saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
Then Saul
swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”
And when the woman saw Samuel, she
cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul,
saying, Why hast thou
deceived me? for thou art Saul.
But when the woman saw Samuel, she
cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you
deceived me? You are Saul!”
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he
hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
Saul refused,
saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in
urging him, and he
heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
Is not this David, of whom they
sang one to another in dances,
saying, Saul
slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
And David enquired at the LORD,
saying, Shall I pursue after this
troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and
rescue the
captives.”
And when David came to
Ziklag, he sent of the
spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends,
saying, Behold a present for you of the
spoil of the enemies of the LORD;
When David arrived in
Ziklag, he sent some of the
plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah,
saying, “Here is a gift for you from the
plunder of the LORD’s enemies.”
And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath
testified against thee,
saying, I have slain the LORD’S
anointed.
For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has
testified against you,
saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s
anointed.’”
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said,
Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto
Hebron.
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To
Hebron,” replied the LORD.
And the men of Judah came, and there they
anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David,
saying, That the men of
Jabesh-
gilead were they that buried Saul.
Then the men of Judah came to
Hebron, and there they
anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of
Jabesh-
gilead who buried Saul.”
And
Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf,
saying, Whose is the land?
saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
Then
Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”
And David sent messengers to
Ish-bosheth Saul’s son,
saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I
espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
Then David sent messengers to say to
Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I
betrothed to myself for a hundred
Philistine foreskins.”
And
Abner had communication with the elders of Israel,
saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
Now
Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.
Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’”
When
Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told
Joab,
saying,
Abner the son of
Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
When
Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “
Abner son of
Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David
sware,
saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath,
saying, “May God
punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
When one told me,
saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good
tidings, I took hold of him, and
slew him in
Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his
tidings:
when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at
Ziklag. That was his reward for his news!
Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto
Hebron, and spake,
saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at
Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood.
And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David,
saying, Except thou take away the blind and the
lame, thou shalt not come in
hither: thinking, David cannot come in
hither.
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and
lame can
repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
And David enquired of the LORD,
saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines?
wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
And it was told king David,
saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-
edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-
edom into the city of David with
gladness.
Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-
edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-
edom into the City of David with
rejoicing.
And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto
Nathan,
saying,
But that night the word of the LORD came to
Nathan,
saying,
In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel,
saying, Why build ye not me an house of
cedar?
In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to
shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why
haven’t you built Me a house of
cedar?’
And let thy name be
magnified for ever,
saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
so that Your name will be
magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You.
For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You.
And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
And the woman conceived and sent word to David,
saying, “I am
pregnant.”
And David sent to
Joab,
saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And
Joab sent Uriah to David.
At this, David sent orders to
Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So
Joab sent him to David.
And when they had told David,
saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then
didst thou not go down unto thine house?
And David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” “
Haven’t you just arrived from a journey?” David asked Uriah. “Why didn’t you go home?”
And he wrote in the letter,
saying, Set ye Uriah in the
forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be
smitten, and die.
In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”
And charged the
messenger,
saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,
and
instructed the
messenger, “When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle,
Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.
Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.”
Now
Absalom had commanded his servants,
saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is
merry with wine, and when I say unto you,
Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be
courageous and be
valiant.
Now
Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is
merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be
courageous and
valiant!”
And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that
tidings came to David,
saying,
Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.
While they were on the way, a report reached David: “
Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!”
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 had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king’s face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.
“Look,” said
Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.”
For thy servant
vowed a
vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria,
saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.
For your servant made a
vow while dwelling in Geshur of
Aram,
saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in
Hebron.’”
Then
Absalom sent
spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘
Absalom reigns in
Hebron!’”
And there came a
messenger to David,
saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after
Absalom.
Then a
messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with
Absalom.”
And the
saying pleased
Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
This proposal seemed good to
Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
And 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.
So Hushai came to
Absalom, who told him, “
Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?”
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David,
saying,
Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be
swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not
spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be
swallowed up.’”
And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath
Ahithophel counselled against you.
After the men had gone,
Ahimaaz and
Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David,
saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for
Ahithophel has given this advice against you.”
And the king commanded
Joab and
Abishai and Ittai,
saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with
Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning
Absalom.
Now the king had commanded
Joab,
Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man
Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding
Absalom.
And the man said unto
Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and
Abishai and Ittai,
saying,
Beware that none touch the young man
Absalom.
The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver were
weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and
Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man
Absalom for my sake.’
Then 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.
So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.
And 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.
And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were
arguing, “The king
rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of
Absalom.
And 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.
Then King David sent this message to
Zadok and
Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?
Then she spake,
saying, They were
wont to speak in old time,
saying, They shall surely ask counsel at
Abel: and so they ended the matter.
Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at
Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.