2 Samuel 14 read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

2 Samuel 14 (WEBP)

[1] Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
[2] Joab sent to Tekoa and brought a wise woman from there, and said to her, “Please act like a mourner, and put on mourning clothing, please, and don’t anoint yourself with oil; but be as a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead.
[3] Go in to the king and speak like this to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth.
[4] When the woman of Tekoa spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, showed respect, and said, “Help, O king!”
[5] The king said to her, “What ails you?” She answered, “Truly I am a widow, and my husband is dead.
[6] Your servant had two sons; and they both fought together in the field, and there was no one to part them, but the one struck the other and killed him.
[7] Behold, the whole family has risen against your servant, and they say, ‘Deliver him who struck his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he killed, and so destroy the heir also.’ Thus they would quench my coal which is left, and would leave to my husband neither name nor remainder on the surface of the earth.”
[8] The king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you.”
[9] The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord, O king, may the iniquity be on me, and on my father’s house; and may the king and his throne be guiltless.”
[10] The king said, “Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not bother you any more.”
[11] Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son.” He said, “As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the earth.”
[12] Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Say on.”
[13] The woman said, “Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring home again his banished one.
[14] For we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground, which can’t be gathered up again; neither does God take away life, but devises means, that he who is banished not be an outcast from him.
[15] Now therefore, seeing that I have come to speak this word to my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. Your servant said, ‘I will now speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.’
[16] For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.
[17] Then your servant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king bring rest; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. May Yahweh, your God, be with you.’ ”
[18] Then the king answered the woman, “Please don’t hide anything from me that I ask you.” The woman said, “Let my lord the king now speak.”
[19] The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken; for your servant Joab urged me, and he put all these words in the mouth of your servant.
[20] Your servant Joab has done this thing to change the face of the matter. My lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.”
[21] The king said to Joab, “Behold now, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, and bring the young man Absalom back.”
[22] Joab fell to the ground on his face, showed respect, and blessed the king. Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord, O king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant.”
[23] So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.
[24] The king said, “Let him return to his own house, but let him not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, and didn’t see the king’s face.
[25] Now in all Israel there was no one to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty. From the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no defect in him.
[26] When he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year’s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels,° after the king’s weight.
[27] Three sons were born to Absalom, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a woman with a beautiful face.
[28] Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, and he didn’t see the king’s face.
[29] Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. Then he sent again a second time, but he would not come.
[30] Therefore he said to his servants, “Behold, Joab’s field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
[31] Then Joab arose and came to Absalom to his house, and said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”
[32] Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent to you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still. Now therefore, let me see the king’s face; and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.” ’ ”
[33] So Joab came to the king and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 14:26 A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 200 shekels is about 2 kilograms or about 4.4 pounds.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

2 Samuel 14 (KJVS)

[1] Now Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah H6870 perceived H3045 (8799) that the king’s H4428 heart H3820 [was] toward Absalom H53.
[2] And Joab H3097 sent H7971 (8799) to Tekoah H8620, and fetched H3947 (8799) thence a wise H2450 woman H802, and said H559 (8799) unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner H56 (8693), and put on H3847 (8798) now mourning H60 apparel H899, and anoint H5480 (8799) not thyself with oil H8081, but be as a woman H802 that had a long H7227 time H3117 mourned H56 (8690) for the dead H4191 (8801):
[3] And come H935 (8804) to the king H4428, and speak H1696 (8765) on this manner H1697 unto him. So Joab H3097 put H7760 (8799) the words H1697 in her mouth H6310.
[4] And when the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 spake H559 (8799) to the king H4428, she fell H5307 (8799) on her face H639 to the ground H776, and did obeisance H7812 (8691), and said H559 (8799), Help H3467 (8685), O king H4428.
[5] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799) unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered H559 (8799), I [am] indeed H61 a widow H490 woman H802, and mine husband H376 is dead H4191 (8799).
[6] And thy handmaid H8198 had two H8147 sons H1121, and they two H8147 strove together H5327 (8735) in the field H7704, and [there was] none to part H5337 (8688) them, but the one H259 smote H5221 (8686) the other H259, and slew H4191 (8686) him.
[7] And, behold, the whole family H4940 is risen H6965 (8804) against thine handmaid H8198, and they said H559 (8799), Deliver H5414 (8798) him that smote H5221 (8688) his brother H251, that we may kill H4191 (8686) him, for the life H5315 of his brother H251 whom he slew H2026 (8804); and we will destroy H8045 (8686) the heir H3423 (8802) also: and so they shall quench H3518 (8765) my coal H1513 which is left H7760 (8800), and shall not leave H7604 (8738) to my husband H376 [neither] name H8034 nor remainder H7611 upon H6440 the earth H127.
[8] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799) unto the woman H802, Go H3212 (8798) to thine house H1004, and I will give charge H6680 (8762) concerning thee.
[9] And the woman H802 of Tekoah H8621 said H559 (8799) unto the king H4428, My lord H113, O king H4428, the iniquity H5771 [be] on me, and on my father’s H1 house H1004: and the king H4428 and his throne H3678 [be] guiltless H5355.
[10] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799), Whosoever saith H1696 (8764) [ought] unto thee, bring H935 (8689) him to me, and he shall not touch H5060 (8800) thee any more H3254 (8686).
[11] Then said H559 (8799) she, I pray thee, let the king H4428 remember H2142 (8799) the LORD H3068 thy God H430, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers H1350 (8802) of blood H1818 to destroy H7843 (8763) any more H7235 (8687), lest they destroy H8045 (8686) my son H1121. And he said H559 (8799), [As] the LORD H3068 liveth H2416, there shall not one hair H8185 of thy son H1121 fall H5307 (8799) to the earth H776.
[12] Then the woman H802 said H559 (8799), Let thine handmaid H8198, I pray thee, speak H1696 (8762) [one] word H1697 unto my lord H113 the king H4428. And he said H559 (8799), Say on H1696 (8761).
[13] And the woman H802 said H559 (8799), Wherefore then hast thou thought H2803 (8804) such a thing against the people H5971 of God H430? for the king H4428 doth speak H1696 (8693) this thing H1697 as one which is faulty H818, in that the king H4428 doth not fetch home again H7725 (8687) his banished H5080 (8737).
[14] For we must needs H4191 (8800) die H4191 (8799), and [are] as water H4325 spilt H5064 (8737) on the ground H776, which cannot be gathered up again H622 (8735); neither doth God H430 respect H5375 (8799) [any] person H5315: yet doth he devise H2803 (8804) means H4284, that his banished H5080 (8737) be not expelled H5080 (8799) from him.
[15] Now therefore that I am come H935 (8804) to speak H1696 (8763) of this thing H1697 unto my lord H113 the king H4428, [it is] because the people H5971 have made me afraid H3372 (8765): and thy handmaid H8198 said H559 (8799), I will now speak H1696 (8762) unto the king H4428; it may be that the king H4428 will perform H6213 (8799) the request H1697 of his handmaid H519.
[16] For the king H4428 will hear H8085 (8799), to deliver H5337 (8687) his handmaid H519 out of the hand H3709 of the man H376 [that would] destroy H8045 (8687) me and my son H1121 together H3162 out of the inheritance H5159 of God H430.
[17] Then thine handmaid H8198 said H559 (8799), The word H1697 of my lord H113 the king H4428 shall now be comfortable H4496: for as an angel H4397 of God H430, so [is] my lord H113 the king H4428 to discern H8085 (8800) good H2896 and bad H7451: therefore the LORD H3068 thy God H430 will be with thee.
[18] Then the king H4428 answered H6030 (8799) and said H559 (8799) unto the woman H802, Hide H3582 (8762) not from me, I pray thee, the thing H1697 that I shall ask H7592 (8802) thee. And the woman H802 said H559 (8799), Let my lord H113 the king H4428 now speak H1696 (8762).
[19] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799), [Is not] the hand H3027 of Joab H3097 with thee in all this? And the woman H802 answered H6030 (8799) and said H559 (8799), [As] thy soul H5315 liveth H2416, my lord H113 the king H4428, none H376 can H786 turn to the right hand H3231 (8687) or to the left H8041 (8687) from ought that my lord H113 the king H4428 hath spoken H1696 (8765): for thy servant H5650 Joab H3097, he bade H6680 (8765) me, and he put H7760 (8804) all these words H1697 in the mouth H6310 of thine handmaid H8198:
[20] To H5668 fetch about H5437 (8763) this form H6440 of speech H1697 hath thy servant H5650 Joab H3097 done H6213 (8804) this thing H1697: and my lord H113 [is] wise H2450, according to the wisdom H2451 of an angel H4397 of God H430, to know H3045 (8800) all [things] that [are] in the earth H776.
[21] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799) unto Joab H3097, Behold now, I have done H6213 (8804) this thing H1697: go H3212 (8798) therefore, bring H7725 the young man H5288 Absalom H53 again H7725 (8685).
[22] And Joab H3097 fell H5307 (8799) to the ground H776 on his face H6440, and bowed H7812 (8691) himself, and thanked H1288 (8762) the king H4428: and Joab H3097 said H559 (8799), To day H3117 thy servant H5650 knoweth H3045 (8804) that I have found H4672 (8804) grace H2580 in thy sight H5869, my lord H113, O king H4428, in that the king H4428 hath fulfilled H6213 (8804) the request H1697 of his servant H5650.
[23] So Joab H3097 arose H6965 (8799) and went H3212 (8799) to Geshur H1650, and brought H935 (8686) Absalom H53 to Jerusalem H3389.
[24] And the king H4428 said H559 (8799), Let him turn H5437 (8735) to his own house H1004, and let him not see H7200 (8799) my face H6440. So Absalom H53 returned H5437 (8735) to his own house H1004, and saw H7200 (8804) not the king’s H4428 face H6440.
[25] But in all Israel H3478 there was none H376 to be so much H3966 praised H1984 (8763) as Absalom H53 for his beauty H3303: from the sole H3709 of his foot H7272 even to the crown of his head H6936 there was no blemish H3971 in him.
[26] And when he polled H1548 (8763) his head H7218, (for it was at every year’s H3117 H3117 end H7093 that he polled H1548 (8762) [it]: because [the hair] was heavy H3513 (8804) on him, therefore he polled H1548 (8765) it:) he weighed H8254 (8804) the hair H8181 of his head H7218 at two hundred H3967 shekels H8255 after the king’s H4428 weight H68.
[27] And unto Absalom H53 there were born H3205 (8735) three H7969 sons H1121, and one H259 daughter H1323, whose name H8034 [was] Tamar H8559: she was a woman H802 of a fair H3303 countenance H4758.
[28] So Absalom H53 dwelt H3427 (8799) two full H3117 years H8141 in Jerusalem H3389, and saw H7200 (8804) not the king’s H4428 face H6440.
[29] Therefore Absalom H53 sent H7971 (8799) for Joab H3097, to have sent H7971 (8800) him to the king H4428; but he would H14 (8804) not come H935 (8800) to him: and when he sent again H7971 (8799) the second time H8145, he would H14 (8804) not come H935 (8800).
[30] Therefore he said H559 (8799) unto his servants H5650, See H7200 (8798), Joab’s H3097 field H2513 is near H413 mine H3027, and he hath barley H8184 there; go H3212 (8798) and set H3341 (8685) it on fire H784. And Absalom’s H53 servants H5650 set H3341 (8686) the field H2513 on fire H784.
[31] Then Joab H3097 arose H6965 (8799), and came H935 (8799) to Absalom H53 unto [his] house H1004, and said H559 (8799) unto him, Wherefore have thy servants H5650 set H3341 (8689) my field H2513 on fire H784?
[32] And Absalom H53 answered H559 (8799) Joab H3097, Behold, I sent H7971 (8804) unto thee, saying H559 (8800), Come H935 (8798) hither, that I may send H7971 (8799) thee to the king H4428, to say H559 (8800), Wherefore am I come H935 (8804) from Geshur H1650? [it had been] good H2896 for me [to have been] there still: now therefore let me see H7200 (8799) the king’s H4428 face H6440; and if there be H3426 [any] iniquity H5771 in me, let him kill H4191 (8689) me.
[33] So Joab H3097 came H935 (8799) to the king H4428, and told H5046 (8686) him: and when he had called H7121 (8799) for Absalom H53, he came H935 (8799) to the king H4428, and bowed H7812 (8691) himself on his face H639 to the ground H776 before H6440 the king H4428: and the king H4428 kissed H5401 (8799) Absalom H53.

Young’s Literal Translation

2 Samuel 14 (YLT)

[1] And Joab son of Zeruial knoweth that the heart of the king is on Absalom,
[2] and Joab sendeth to Tekoah, and taketh thence a wise woman, and saith unto her, ‘Feign thyself a mourner, I pray thee, and put on, I pray thee, garments of mourning, and anoint not thyself with oil, and thou hast been as a woman these many days mourning for the dead,
[3] and thou hast gone unto the king, and spoken unto him, according to this word;’ and Joab putteth the words into her mouth.
[4] And the woman of Tekoah speaketh unto the king, and falleth on her face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and saith, ‘Save, O king.’
[5] And the king saith to her, ‘What-to thee?’ and she saith, ‘Truly a widow woman am I, and my husband dieth,
[6] and thy maid-servant hath two sons; and they strive both of them in a field, and there is no deliverer between them, and the one smiteth the other, and putteth him to death;
[7] and lo, the whole family hath risen against thy maid-servant, and say, Give up him who smiteth his brother, and we put him to death for the life of his brother whom he hath slain, and we destroy also the heir; and they have quenched my coal which is left-so as not to set to my husband a name and remnant on the face of the ground.’
[8] And the king saith unto the woman, ‘Go to thine house, and I give charge concerning thee.’
[9] And the woman of Tekoah saith unto the king, ‘On me, my lord, O king, is the iniquity, and on the house of my father; and the king and his throne are innocent.’
[10] And the king saith, ‘He who speaketh aught unto thee, and thou hast brought him unto me, then he doth not add any more to come against thee.’
[11] And she saith, ‘Let, I pray thee, the king remember by Jehovah thy God, that the redeemer of blood add not to destroy, and they destroy not my son;’ and he saith, ‘Jehovah liveth; if there doth fall of the hair of thy son to the earth.’
[12] And the woman saith, ‘Let, I pray thee, thy maid-servant speak unto my lord the king a word;’ and he saith, ‘Speak.’
[13] And the woman saith, ‘And why hast thou thought thus concerning the people of God? yea, the king is speaking this thing as a guilty one, in that the king hath not brought back his outcast;
[14] for we do surely die, and are as water which is running down to the earth, which is not gathered, and God doth not accept a person, and hath devised devices in that the outcast is not outcast by Him.
[15] ‘And now that I have come to speak unto the king my lord this word, it is because the people made me afraid, and thy maid-servant saith, Let me speak, I pray thee, unto the king; it may be the king doth do the word of his handmaid,
[16] for the king doth hearken to deliver his handmaid out of the paw of the man seeking to destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God,
[17] and thy maid-servant saith, Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be for ease; for as a messenger of God so is my lord the king, to understand the good and the evil; and Jehovah thy God is with thee.’
[18] And the king answereth and saith unto the woman, ‘Do not, I pray thee, hide from me the thing that I am asking thee;’ and the woman saith, ‘Let, I pray thee, my lord the king speak.’
[19] And the king saith, ‘Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this?’ And the woman answereth and saith, ‘Thy soul liveth, my lord, O king, none doth turn to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king hath spoken; for thy servant Joab he commanded me, and he put in the mouth of thy maid-servant all these words;
[20] in order to bring round the appearance of the thing hath thy servant Joab done this thing, and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of a messenger of God, to know all that is in the land.’
[21] And the king saith unto Joab, ‘Lo, I pray thee, thou hast done this thing; and go, bring back the young man Absalom.’
[22] And Joab falleth on his face to the earth, and doth obeisance, and blesseth the king, and Joab saith, ‘To-day hath thy servant known that I have found grace in thine eyes, my lord, O king, in that the king hath done the word of his servant.’
[23] And Joab riseth and goeth to Geshur, and bringeth in Absalom to Jerusalem,
[24] and the king saith, ‘Let him turn round unto his house, and my face he doth not see.’ And Absalom turneth round unto his house, and the face of the king he hath not seen.
[25] And like Absalom there was no man so fair in all Israel, to praise greatly; from the sole of his foot even unto his crown there was no blemish in him;
[26] and in his polling his head-and it hath been at the end of year by year that he polleth it, for it is heavy on him, and he hath polled it-he hath even weighed out the hair of his head-two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.
[27] And there are born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter, and her name is Tamar; she was a woman of a fair appearance.
[28] And Absalom dwelleth in Jerusalem two years of days, and the face of the king he hath not seen;
[29] and Absalom sendeth unto Joab, to send him unto the king, and he hath not been willing to come unto him; and he sendeth again a second time, and he hath not been willing to come.
[30] And he saith unto his servants, ‘See, the portion of Joab is by the side of mine, and he hath barley there; go, and burn it with fire;’ and the servants of Absalom burn the portion with fire.
[31] And Joab riseth and cometh unto Absalom in the house, and saith unto him, ‘Why have thy servants burned the portion that I have with fire?’
[32] And Absalom saith unto Joab, ‘Lo, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, and I send thee unto the king to say, Why have I come in from Geshur?-good for me while I am there-and now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is in me iniquity then thou hast put me to death.’
[33] And Joab cometh unto the king, and declareth it to him, and he calleth unto Absalom, and he cometh unto the king, and boweth himself to him, on his face, to the earth, before the king, and the king giveth a kiss to Absalom.