33,354 verses contain “the” (in the KJV: 32,434, in the BSB: 26,201) — showing 7,801–7,900
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But Uriah
slept at
the door of
the king’s house with all
the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.
But Uriah
slept at
the door of
the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house.
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 Uriah said unto David,
The ark, and Israel, and Judah,
abide in tents; and my lord
Joab, and
the servants of my lord, are
encamped in
the open fields; shall I
then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
Uriah answered, “
The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master
Joab and his soldiers are camped in
the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”
And David said to Uriah,
Tarry here to day also, and to
morrow I will let
thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and
the morrow.
“Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and
tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and
the next.
And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him
drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with
the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah
drunk. And in
the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his
cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home.
And it came to pass in
the morning, that David wrote a letter to
Joab, and sent it by
the hand of Uriah.
The next morning David wrote a letter to
Joab and sent it with Uriah.
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 it came to pass, when
Joab observed
the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that
valiant men were.
So as
Joab besieged
the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw
the strongest enemy soldiers.
And
the men of
the city went out, and fought with
Joab: and
there fell some of
the people of
the servants of David; and Uriah
the Hittite died also.
And when
the men of
the city came out and fought against
Joab, some of David’s servants fell, and Uriah
the Hittite also died.
Then Joab sent and told David all
the things concerning
the war;
Joab sent to David a full account of
the battle
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,
And 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?
if
the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to
the city to fight? Did you not
realize they would shoot from
atop the wall?
Who
smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a
millstone upon him from
the wall, that he died in
Thebez? why went ye
nigh the wall?
then say thou, Thy servant Uriah
the Hittite is dead also.
Who was
the one to strike
Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper
millstone on him from
the wall, so that he died in
Thebez? Why did you get so close to
the wall?’ If so,
then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah
the Hittite is dead as well.’”
So
the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that
Joab had sent him for.
So
the messenger set out and reported to David all that
Joab had sent him to say.
And
the messenger said unto David, Surely
the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into
the field, and we were upon
them even unto
the entering of
the gate.
The messenger said to David, “
The men overpowered us and came out against us in
the field, but we drove
them back to
the entrance of
the gate.
And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king’s servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.
Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.”
Then David said unto
the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto
Joab, Let not this thing displease
thee, for
the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against
the city, and overthrow it: and
encourage thou him.
And when
the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she
mourned for her husband.
When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she
mourned for him.
And when
the mourning was past, David sent and
fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But
the thing that David had done displeased
the LORD.
And when
the time of
mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But
the thing that David had done was evil in
the sight of
the LORD.
And
the LORD sent
Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him,
There were two men in one city;
the one rich, and
the other poor.
Then the LORD sent
Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “
There were two men in a certain city, one rich and
the other poor.
The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle,
But
the poor man had nothing, save one little
ewe lamb, which he had bought and
nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and
drank of his own cup, and lay in his
bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
but
the poor man had nothing except one small
ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and
drank from his cup; it
slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him.
And
there came a traveller unto
the rich man, and he
spared to take of his own flock and of his own
herd, to dress for
the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took
the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for
the man that was come to him.
Now a traveler came to
the rich man, who
refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for
the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took
the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his
guest.”
And David’s anger was greatly
kindled against
the man; and he said to
Nathan, As
the LORD liveth,
the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
David burned with anger against
the man and said to
Nathan: “As surely as
the LORD lives,
the man who did this deserves to die!
And he shall restore
the lamb
fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no
pity.
Because he has done this thing and has shown no
pity, he must pay for
the lamb four times over.”
And
Nathan said to David, Thou art
the man. Thus saith
the LORD God of Israel, I
anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered
thee out of
the hand of Saul;
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what
the LORD,
the God of Israel, says: ‘I
anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from
the hand of Saul.
And I gave
thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy
bosom, and gave
thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto
thee such and such things.
I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.
Wherefore hast thou
despised the commandment of
the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah
the Hittite with
the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with
the sword of
the children of
Ammon.
Why
then have you
despised the command of
the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah
the Hittite to
the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with
the sword of
the Ammonites.
Now
therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast
despised me, and hast taken
the wife of Uriah
the Hittite to be thy wife.
Now,
therefore,
the sword will never depart from your house, because you have
despised Me and have taken
the wife of Uriah
the Hittite to be your own.’
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
This is what
the LORD says: ‘I will raise up
adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give
them to another, and he will lie with
them in broad
daylight.
For thou
didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before
the sun.
You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad
daylight before all Israel.’”
And David said unto
Nathan, I have
sinned against
the LORD. And
Nathan said unto David,
The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Then David said to
Nathan, “I have
sinned against
the LORD.” “
The LORD has taken away your sin,”
Nathan replied. “You will not die.
Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to
the enemies of
the LORD to
blaspheme,
the child also that is born unto
thee shall surely die.
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
And
Nathan departed unto his house. And
the LORD struck
the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
After
Nathan had gone home,
the LORD struck
the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
David
therefore besought God for
the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon
the earth.
David
pleaded with God for
the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent
the night lying in
sackcloth on
the ground.
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
And it came to pass on
the seventh day, that
the child died. And
the servants of David feared to tell him that
the child was dead: for
they said, Behold, while
the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not
hearken unto our voice: how will he
then vex himself, if we tell him that
the child is dead?
On
the seventh day
the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that
the child was dead, for
they said, “Look, while
the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not
listen to us. So how can we tell him
the child is dead? He may even
harm himself.”
But when David saw that his servants
whispered, David perceived that
the child was dead:
therefore David said unto his servants, Is
the child dead? And
they said, He is dead.
When David saw that his servants were
whispering to one another, he perceived that
the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is
the child dead?” “He is dead,”
they replied.
Then David arose from
the earth, and washed, and
anointed himself, and changed his
apparel, and came into
the house of
the LORD, and worshipped:
then he came to his own house; and when he required,
they set bread before him, and he did eat.
Then David got up from
the ground, washed and
anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into
the house of
the LORD and worshiped.
Then he went to his own house, and at his request
they set food before him, and he
ate.
Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou
didst fast and
weep for
the child, while it was alive; but when
the child was dead, thou
didst rise and eat bread.
“What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While
the child was alive, you fasted and
wept, but when he died, you got up and
ate.”
And he said, While
the child was yet alive, I fasted and
wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be
gracious to me, that
the child may live?
David answered, “While
the child was alive, I fasted and
wept, for I said, ‘Who knows?
The LORD may be
gracious to me and let him live.’
And David comforted Bath-
sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and
the LORD loved him.
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child
And he sent by
the hand of
Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of
the LORD.
and sent word through
Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because
the LORD loved him.
And
Joab fought against Rabbah of
the children of
Ammon, and took
the royal city.
Meanwhile,
Joab fought against Rabbah of
the Ammonites and captured
the royal fortress.
And
Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken
the city of waters.
Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured
the water supply of
the city.
Now
therefore gather
the rest of
the people together, and
encamp against
the city, and take it: lest I take
the city, and it be called after my name.
Now,
therefore,
assemble the rest of
the troops, lay siege to
the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture
the city, and it will be named after me.”
And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it.
And he took
their king’s crown from off his head,
the weight
whereof was a talent of gold with
the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth
the spoil of
the city in great abundance.
Then he took
the crown from
the head of
their king. It
weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of
plunder from
the city.
And he brought forth
the people that were
therein, and put
them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made
them pass through
the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all
the cities of
the children of
Ammon. So David and all
the people returned unto Jerusalem.
David brought out
the people who were
there and put
them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made
them work at
the brick kilns. He did
the same to all
the Ammonite cities.
Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
And it came to pass after this, that
Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon
the son of David loved her.
After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar,
the beautiful sister of David’s son
Absalom.
But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab,
the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very
subtil man.
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab,
the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very
shrewd man,
And he said unto him, Why art thou, being
the king’s son,
lean from day to day?
wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother
Absalom’s sister.
so he asked Amnon, “Why are you,
the son of
the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother
Absalom’s sister.”
And Jonadab said unto him, Lay
thee down on thy bed, and make
thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see
thee, say unto him, I pray
thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress
the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.
Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’”
So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.
So Amnon lay down and
feigned illness. When
the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.”
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.”
So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and
kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did
bake the cakes.
So Tamar went to
the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some
dough,
kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and
baked them.
And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.
Then she brought
the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send
everyone away!” said Amnon. And
everyone went out.
And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.
Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring
the food into
the bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.” Tamar took
the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s
bedroom.
And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.
And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!”
And I,
whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for
thee, thou shalt be as one of
the fools in Israel. Now
therefore, I pray
thee, speak unto
the king; for he will not
withhold me from
thee.
Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of
the fools in Israel! Please speak to
the king, for he will not
withhold me from you.”
Then Amnon
hated her exceedingly; so that
the hatred
wherewith he
hated her was greater than
the love
wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.
Then Amnon
hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than
the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”
And she said unto him,
There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than
the other that thou
didst unto me. But he would not
hearken unto her.
“No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!” But he refused to
listen to her.
Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and
bolt the door after her.
Instead, he called to his
attendant and said, “Throw this woman out and
bolt the door behind her!”
And she had a garment of
divers colours upon her: for with such robes were
the king’s daughters that were virgins
apparelled.
Then his servant brought her out, and
bolted the door after her.
So Amnon’s
attendant threw her out and
bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a
robe of many colors, because this is what
the king’s virgin daughters
wore.
And
Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with
thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained
desolate in her brother
Absalom’s house.
Her brother
Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar lived as a
desolate woman in
the house of her brother
Absalom.
But when king David heard of all
these things, he was very
wroth.
When King David heard all this, he was
furious.
And it came to pass after two full years, that
Absalom had sheepshearers in
Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and
Absalom invited all
the king’s sons.
Two years later, when
Absalom’s sheepshearers were at
Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all
the sons of
the king.
And
Absalom came to
the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let
the king, I
beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
And he went to
the king and said, “Your servant has just
hired shearers. Will
the king and his servants please come with me?”
And
the king said to
Absalom,
Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto
thee. And he pressed him:
howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.
“No, my son,”
the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although
Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.
Then said
Absalom, If not, I pray
thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And
the king said unto him, Why should he go with
thee?
“If not,” said
Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” “Why should he go with you?”
the king asked.
But
Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all
the king’s sons go with him.
But
Absalom urged him, so
the king sent Amnon and
the rest of his sons.
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
the servants of
Absalom did unto Amnon as
Absalom had commanded.
Then all
the king’s sons arose, and every man
gat him up upon his
mule, and fled.
So
Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as
Absalom had ordered.
Then all
the other sons of
the king got up, and each one fled on his
mule.
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!”
Then the king arose, and
tare his garments, and lay on
the earth; and all his servants stood by with
their clothes rent.
Then the king stood up,
tore his clothes, and lay down on
the ground; and all his servants stood by with
their clothes
torn.
And Jonadab,
the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that
they have slain all
the young men
the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by
the appointment of
Absalom this hath been determined from
the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
But Jonadab,
the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think
they have killed all
the sons of
the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact,
Absalom has
planned this since
the day Amnon
violated his sister Tamar.
Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.
So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”
But
Absalom fled. And
the young man that kept
the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold,
there came much people by
the way of
the hill side behind him.
Meanwhile,
Absalom had fled. When
the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down
the road west of him, along
the side of
the hill. And
the watchman went and reported to
the king, “I see men coming from
the direction of Horonaim, along
the side of
the hill.”
And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.
So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.”
And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold,
the king’s sons came, and lifted up
their voice and
wept: and
the king also and all his servants
wept very
sore.
And as he finished speaking,
the sons of
the king came in,
wailing loudly.
Then the king and all his servants also
wept very bitterly.
But
Absalom fled, and went to Talmai,
the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David
mourned for his son every day.
Now
Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud,
the king of Geshur. But David
mourned for his son every day.
So
Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was
there three years.
After
Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed
there three years.
And
the soul of king David longed to go forth unto
Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
And King David longed to go to
Absalom, for he had been
consoled over Amnon’s death.
Now
Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that
the king’s heart was toward
Absalom.
Now
Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that
the king’s heart longed for
Absalom.
So
Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from
there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a
mourner; put on clothes for
mourning and do not
anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has
mourned for
the dead a long time.
And come to
the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So
Joab put
the words in her mouth.
Then go to
the king and speak
these words to him.” And
Joab put
the words in her mouth.
And 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.
When
the woman from Tekoa went to
the king, she fell facedown in
homage and said, “Help me, O king!”
And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.
“What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead.
And 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.
And your
maidservant had two sons who were fighting in
the field with no one to separate
them, and one struck
the other and killed him.
And, behold,
the whole family is risen against thine
handmaid, and
they said, Deliver him that
smote his brother, that we may kill him, for
the life of his brother whom he
slew; and we will destroy
the heir also: and so
they shall
quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon
the earth.
Now
the whole clan has risen up against your
maidservant and said, ‘Hand over
the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for
the life of
the brother whom he killed.
Then we will cut off
the heir as well!’ So
they would
extinguish my one remaining
ember by not preserving my husband’s name or
posterity on
the earth.”
And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.
“Go home,” the king said to the woman, “and I will give orders on your behalf.”
And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.
But
the woman of Tekoa said to
the king, “My lord
the king, may any
blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may
the king and his throne be guiltless.”
And
the king said,
Whosoever saith ought unto
thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch
thee any more.
“If
anyone speaks to you,” said
the king, “bring him to me, and he will not trouble you again!”
Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.
“Please,” she replied, “may
the king
invoke the LORD your God to prevent
the avenger of blood from increasing
the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as
the LORD lives,” he
vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to
the ground.”
Then the woman said, Let thine
handmaid, I pray
thee, speak one word unto my lord
the king. And he said, Say on.
Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied.
And
the woman said, Wherefore
then hast thou thought such a thing against
the people of God? for
the king
doth speak this thing as one which is
faulty, in that
the king
doth not
fetch home again his banished.
The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against
the people of God? When
the king says this, does he not
convict himself, since he has not brought back his own banished son?
For we must needs die, and are as water
spilt on
the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither
doth God respect any person: yet
doth he
devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.
Now
therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord
the king, it is because
the people have made me afraid: and thy
handmaid said, I will now speak unto
the king; it may be that
the king will perform
the request of his
handmaid.
Now
therefore, I have come to present this matter to my lord
the king because
the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to
the king. Perhaps he will grant
the request of his
maidservant.
For
the king will hear, to deliver his
handmaid out of
the hand of
the man that would destroy me and my son together out of
the inheritance of God.
For
the king will hear and deliver his
maidservant from
the hand of
the man who would cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’
Then thine
handmaid said,
The word of my lord
the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord
the king to
discern good and bad:
therefore the LORD thy God will be with
thee.
And now your servant says, ‘May
the word of my lord
the king bring me rest, for my lord
the king is able to
discern good and evil, just like
the angel of God. May
the LORD your God be with you.’”
