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 the son of Zeruiah perceived () that the king’s heart was toward Absalom.
[2] And Joab sent () to Tekoah, and fetched () thence a wise woman, and said () unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, () and put on () now mourning apparel, and anoint () not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned () for the dead: ()
[3] and come () to the king, and speak () on this manner unto him. So Joab put () the words in her mouth.
[4] 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.
[5] And the king said () unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, () I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. ()
[6] 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.
[7] 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.
[8] And the king said () unto the woman, Go () to thine house, and I will give charge () concerning thee.
[9] 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.
[10] And the king said, () Whosoever saith () ought unto thee, bring () him to me, and he shall not touch () thee any more. ()
[11] 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.
[12] Then the woman said, () Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak () one word unto my lord the king. And he said, () Say on. ()
[13] 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. ()
[14] 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.
[15] 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.
[16] 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.
[17] 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.
[18] Then the king answered () and said () unto the woman, Hide () not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask () thee. And the woman said, () Let my lord the king now speak. ()
[19] And the king said, () Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered () and said, () As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand () or to the left () from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: () for thy servant Joab, he bade () me, and he put () all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:
[20] to fetch about () this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done () this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know () all things that are in the earth.
[21] And the king said () unto Joab, Behold now, I have done () this thing: go () therefore, bring the young man Absalom again. ()
[22] And Joab fell () to the ground on his face, and bowed () himself, and thanked () the king: and Joab said, () To day thy servant knoweth () that I have found () grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled () the request of his servant.
[23] So Joab arose () and went () to Geshur, and brought () Absalom to Jerusalem.
[24] And the king said, () Let him turn () to his own house, and let him not see () my face. So Absalom returned () to his own house, and saw () not the king’s face.
[25] But in all Israel there was none 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 blemish in him.
[26] And when he polled () his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled () it; because the hair was heavy () on him, therefore he polled () it;) he weighed () the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.
[27] And unto Absalom there were born () three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.
[28] So Absalom dwelt () two full years in Jerusalem, and saw () not the king’s face.
[29] Therefore Absalom sent () for Joab, to have sent () him to the king; but he would () not come () to him: and when he sent again () the second time, he would () not come. ()
[30] Therefore he said () unto his servants, See, () Joab’s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go () and set () it on fire. And Absalom’s servants set () the field on fire.
[31] Then Joab arose, () and came () to Absalom unto his house, and said () unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set () my field on fire?
[32] 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.
[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 14:4 Heb. save
2 Samuel 14:6 Heb. no deliverer between them
2 Samuel 14:7 Heb. upon the face of the earth
2 Samuel 14:11 Heb. that the revenger of blood do not multiply to destroy
2 Samuel 14:17a Heb. for rest
2 Samuel 14:17b Heb. to hear
2 Samuel 14:22a Heb. blessed
2 Samuel 14:22b Or, thy
2 Samuel 14:25 Heb. and as Absalom there was not a beautiful man in all Israel, to praise greatly
2 Samuel 14:30 Heb. near my place

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

2 Samuel 14 (BYZ)

[1] και εγνω ιωαβ υιος σαρουιας οτι η καρδια του βασιλεως επι αβεσσαλωμ
[2] και απεστειλεν ιωαβ εις θεκωε και ελαβεν εκειθεν γυναικα σοφην και ειπεν προς αυτην πενθησον δη και ενδυσαι ιματια πενθικα και μη αλειψη ελαιον και εση ως γυνη πενθουσα επι τεθνηκοτι τουτο ημερας πολλας
[3] και ελευση προς τον βασιλεα και λαλησεις προς αυτον κατα το ρημα τουτο και εθηκεν ιωαβ τους λογους εν τω στοματι αυτης
[4] και εισηλθεν η γυνη η θεκωιτις προς τον βασιλεα και επεσεν επι προσωπον αυτης εις την γην και προσεκυνησεν αυτω και ειπεν σωσον βασιλευ σωσον
[5] και ειπεν προς αυτην ο βασιλευς τι εστιν σοι η δε ειπεν και μαλα γυνη χηρα εγω ειμι και απεθανεν ο ανηρ μου
[6] και γε τη δουλη σου δυο υιοι και εμαχεσαντο αμφοτεροι εν τω αγρω και ουκ ην ο εξαιρουμενος ανα μεσον αυτων και επαισεν ο εις τον αδελφον αυτου και εθανατωσεν αυτον
[7] και ιδου επανεστη ολη η πατρια προς την δουλην σου και ειπαν δος τον παισαντα τον αδελφον αυτου και θανατωσομεν αυτον αντι της ψυχης του αδελφου αυτου ου απεκτεινεν και εξαρουμεν και γε τον κληρονομον υμων και σβεσουσιν τον ανθρακα μου τον καταλειφθεντα ωστε μη θεσθαι τω ανδρι μου καταλειμμα και ονομα επι προσωπου της γης
[8] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς υγιαινουσα βαδιζε εις τον οικον σου καγω εντελουμαι περι σου
[9] και ειπεν η γυνη η θεκωιτις προς τον βασιλεα επ εμε κυριε μου βασιλευ η ανομια και επι τον οικον του πατρος μου και ο βασιλευς και ο θρονος αυτου αθωος
[10] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς τις ο λαλων προς σε και αξεις αυτον προς εμε και ου προσθησει ετι αψασθαι αυτου
[11] και ειπεν μνημονευσατω δη ο βασιλευς τον κυριον θεον αυτου πληθυνθηναι αγχιστεα του αιματος του διαφθειραι και ου μη εξαρωσιν τον υιον μου και ειπεν ζη κυριος ει πεσειται απο της τριχος του υιου σου επι την γην
[12] και ειπεν η γυνη λαλησατω δη η δουλη σου προς τον κυριον μου τον βασιλεα ρημα και ειπεν λαλησον
[13] και ειπεν η γυνη ινα τι ελογισω τοιουτο επι λαον θεου η εκ στοματος του βασιλεως ο λογος ουτος ως πλημμελεια του μη επιστρεψαι τον βασιλεα τον εξωσμενον αυτου
[14] οτι θανατω αποθανουμεθα και ωσπερ το υδωρ το καταφερομενον επι της γης ο ου συναχθησεται και λημψεται ο θεος ψυχην και λογιζομενος του εξωσαι απ αυτου εξωσμενον
[15] και νυν ο ηλθον λαλησαι προς τον βασιλεα τον κυριον μου το ρημα τουτο οτι οψεται με ο λαος και ερει η δουλη σου λαλησατω δη προς τον βασιλεα ει πως ποιησει ο βασιλευς το ρημα της δουλης αυτου
[16] οτι ακουσει ο βασιλευς ρυσασθαι την δουλην αυτου εκ χειρος του ανδρος του ζητουντος εξαραι με και τον υιον μου απο κληρονομιας θεου
[17] και ειπεν η γυνη ειη δη ο λογος του κυριου μου του βασιλεως εις θυσιαν οτι καθως αγγελος θεου ουτως ο κυριος μου ο βασιλευς του ακουειν το αγαθον και το πονηρον και κυριος ο θεος σου εσται μετα σου
[18] και απεκριθη ο βασιλευς και ειπεν προς την γυναικα μη δη κρυψης απ εμου ρημα ο εγω επερωτω σε και ειπεν η γυνη λαλησατω δη ο κυριος μου ο βασιλευς
[19] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς μη η χειρ ιωαβ εν παντι τουτω μετα σου και ειπεν η γυνη τω βασιλει ζη η ψυχη σου κυριε μου βασιλευ ει εστιν εις τα δεξια η εις τα αριστερα εκ παντων ων ελαλησεν ο κυριος μου ο βασιλευς οτι ο δουλος σου ιωαβ αυτος ενετειλατο μοι και αυτος εθετο εν τω στοματι της δουλης σου παντας τους λογους τουτους
[20] ενεκεν του περιελθειν το προσωπον του ρηματος τουτου εποιησεν ο δουλος σου ιωαβ τον λογον τουτον και ο κυριος μου σοφος καθως σοφια αγγελου του θεου του γνωναι παντα τα εν τη γη
[21] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς προς ιωαβ ιδου δη εποιησα σοι κατα τον λογον σου τουτον πορευου επιστρεψον το παιδαριον τον αβεσσαλωμ
[22] και επεσεν ιωαβ επι προσωπον αυτου επι την γην και προσεκυνησεν και ευλογησεν τον βασιλεα και ειπεν ιωαβ σημερον εγνω ο δουλος σου οτι ευρον χαριν εν οφθαλμοις σου κυριε μου βασιλευ οτι εποιησεν ο κυριος μου ο βασιλευς τον λογον του δουλου αυτου
[23] και ανεστη ιωαβ και επορευθη εις γεδσουρ και ηγαγεν τον αβεσσαλωμ εις ιερουσαλημ
[24] και ειπεν ο βασιλευς αποστραφητω εις τον οικον αυτου και το προσωπον μου μη βλεπετω και απεστρεψεν αβεσσαλωμ εις τον οικον αυτου και το προσωπον του βασιλεως ουκ ειδεν
[25] και ως αβεσσαλωμ ουκ ην ανηρ εν παντι ισραηλ αινετος σφοδρα απο ιχνους ποδος αυτου και εως κορυφης αυτου ουκ ην εν αυτω μωμος
[26] και εν τω κειρεσθαι αυτον την κεφαλην αυτου και εγενετο απ αρχης ημερων εις ημερας ως αν εκειρετο οτι κατεβαρυνετο επ αυτον και κειρομενος αυτην εστησεν την τριχα της κεφαλης αυτου διακοσιους σικλους εν τω σικλω τω βασιλικω
[27] και ετεχθησαν τω αβεσσαλωμ τρεις υιοι και θυγατηρ μια και ονομα αυτη θημαρ αυτη ην γυνη καλη σφοδρα και γινεται γυνη τω ροβοαμ υιω σαλωμων και τικτει αυτω τον αβια
[28] και εκαθισεν αβεσσαλωμ εν ιερουσαλημ δυο ετη ημερων και το προσωπον του βασιλεως ουκ ειδεν
[29] και απεστειλεν αβεσσαλωμ προς ιωαβ του αποστειλαι αυτον προς τον βασιλεα και ουκ ηθελησεν ελθειν προς αυτον και απεστειλεν εκ δευτερου προς αυτον και ουκ ηθελησεν παραγενεσθαι
[30] και ειπεν αβεσσαλωμ προς τους παιδας αυτου ιδετε η μερις εν αγρω του ιωαβ εχομενα μου και αυτω κριθαι εκει πορευεσθε και εμπρησατε αυτην εν πυρι και ενεπρησαν αυτας οι παιδες αβεσσαλωμ και παραγινονται οι δουλοι ιωαβ προς αυτον διερρηχοτες τα ιματια αυτων και ειπαν ενεπυρισαν οι δουλοι αβεσσαλωμ την μεριδα εν πυρι
[31] και ανεστη ιωαβ και ηλθεν προς αβεσσαλωμ εις τον οικον και ειπεν προς αυτον ινα τι οι παιδες σου ενεπυρισαν την μεριδα την εμην εν πυρι
[32] και ειπεν αβεσσαλωμ προς ιωαβ ιδου απεστειλα προς σε λεγων ηκε ωδε και αποστελω σε προς τον βασιλεα λεγων ινα τι ηλθον εκ γεδσουρ αγαθον μοι ην του ετι ειναι με εκει και νυν ιδου το προσωπον του βασιλεως ουκ ειδον ει δε εστιν εν εμοι αδικια και θανατωσον με
[33] και εισηλθεν ιωαβ προς τον βασιλεα και απηγγειλεν αυτω και εκαλεσεν τον αβεσσαλωμ και εισηλθεν προς τον βασιλεα και προσεκυνησεν αυτω και επεσεν επι προσωπον αυτου επι την γην κατα προσωπον του βασιλεως και κατεφιλησεν ο βασιλευς τον αβεσσαλωμ