2 Samuel 18 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

2 Samuel 18 (WEBP)

[1] David counted the people who were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
[2] David sent the people out, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the people, “I will also surely go out with you myself.”
[3] But the people said, “You shall not go out, for if we flee away, they will not care for us, neither if half of us die, will they care for us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. Therefore now it is better that you are ready to help us out of the city.”
[4] The king said to them, “I will do what seems best to you.” The king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.
[5] The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
[6] So the people went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.
[7] The people of Israel were struck there before David’s servants, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.
[8] For the battle was there spread over the surface of all the country, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
[9] Absalom happened to meet David’s servants. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak; and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was hanging between the sky and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.
[10] A certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”
[11] Joab said to the man who told him, “Behold, you saw it, and why didn’t you strike him there to the ground? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a sash.”
[12] The man said to Joab, “Though I should receive a thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I still wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Beware that no one touch the young man Absalom.’
[13] Otherwise, if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hidden from the king), then you yourself would have set yourself against me.”
[14] Then Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this with you.” He took three darts in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart while he was still alive in the middle of the oak.
[15] Ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded and struck Absalom, and killed him.
[16] Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
[17] They took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Then all Israel fled, each to his own tent.
[18] Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar which is in the king’s valley, for he said, “I have no son to keep my name in memory.” He called the pillar after his own name. It is called Absalom’s monument, to this day.
[19] Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies.”
[20] Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
[21] Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen!” The Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
[22] Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, “But come what may, please let me also run after the Cushite.” Joab said, “Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?”
[23] “But come what may,” he said, “I will run.” He said to him, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
[24] Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
[25] The watchman shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.
[26] The watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, a man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.”
[27] The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
[28] Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
[29] The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.”
[30] The king said, “Come and stand here.” He came and stood still.
[31] Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.”
[32] The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you to do you harm, be as that young man is.”
[33] The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”

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 18 (KJVS)

[1] And David numbered () the people that [were] with him, and set () captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
[2] And David sent forth () a third part of the people under the hand of Joab , and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah , Joab’s brother , and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite . And the king said () unto the people , I will surely () go forth () with you myself also.
[3] But the people answered (), Thou shalt not go forth (): for if we flee () away (), they will not care () for us; neither if half of us die (), will they care () for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour () (8675) () us out of the city .
[4] And the king said () unto them, What seemeth you best () I will do (). And the king stood () by the gate side , and all the people came out () by hundreds and by thousands .
[5] 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 .
[6] So the people went out () into the field against () Israel : and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim ;
[7] Where the people of Israel were slain () before the servants of David , and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand [men].
[8] For the battle was there scattered () over the face of all the country : and the wood devoured () more () people that day than the sword devoured ().
[9] And Absalom met () the servants of David . And Absalom rode () upon a mule , and the mule went () under the thick boughs of a great oak , and his head caught hold () of the oak , and he was taken up () between the heaven and the earth ; and the mule that [was] under him went away ().
[10] And a certain man saw () [it], and told () Joab , and said (), Behold, I saw () Absalom hanged () in an oak .
[11] And Joab said () unto the man that told () him, And, behold, thou sawest () [him], and why didst thou not smite () him there to the ground ? and I would have given () thee ten [shekels] of silver , and a girdle .
[12] 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 .
[13] Otherwise I should have wrought () falsehood against mine own life : for there is no matter hid () from the king , and thou thyself wouldest have set () thyself against [me].
[14] Then said () Joab , I may not tarry () thus with thee . And he took () three darts in his hand , and thrust () them through the heart of Absalom , while he [was] yet alive in the midst of the oak .
[15] And ten young men that bare () Joab’s armour compassed about () and smote () Absalom , and slew () him.
[16] And Joab blew () the trumpet , and the people returned () from pursuing () after Israel : for Joab held back () the people .
[17] And they took () Absalom , and cast () him into a great pit in the wood , and laid () a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled () every one to his tent .
[18] Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken () and reared up () for himself a pillar , which [is] in the king’s dale : for he said (), I have no son to keep my name in remembrance (): and he called () the pillar after his own name : and it is called () unto this day , Absalom’s place .
[19] Then said () Ahimaaz the son of Zadok , Let me now run (), and bear the king tidings (), how that the LORD hath avenged () him of his enemies ().
[20] And Joab said () unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day , but thou shalt bear tidings () another day : but this day thou shalt bear no tidings (), because the king’s son is dead ().
[21] Then said () Joab to Cushi , Go () tell () the king what thou hast seen (). And Cushi bowed () himself unto Joab , and ran ().
[22] Then said () Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again () to Joab , But howsoever , let me, I pray thee, also run () after Cushi . And Joab said (), Wherefore wilt thou run (), my son , seeing that thou hast no tidings ready ()?
[23] But howsoever, [said he], let me run (). And he said () unto him, Run (). Then Ahimaaz ran () by the way of the plain , and overran () Cushi .
[24] And David sat () between the two gates : and the watchman () went up () to the roof over the gate unto the wall , and lifted up () his eyes , and looked (), and behold a man running () alone.
[25] And the watchman () cried (), and told () the king . And the king said (), If he [be] alone, [there is] tidings in his mouth . And he came () apace (), and drew near .
[26] And the watchman () saw () another man running (): and the watchman () called () unto the porter , and said (), Behold [another] man running () alone. And the king said (), He also bringeth tidings ().
[27] And the watchman () said (), Me thinketh () the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok . And the king said (), He [is] a good man , and cometh () with good tidings .
[28] And Ahimaaz called (), and said () unto the king , All is well . And he fell down () to the earth upon his face before the king , and said (), Blessed () [be] the LORD thy God , which hath delivered up () the men that lifted up () their hand against my lord the king .
[29] And the king said (), Is the young man Absalom safe ? And Ahimaaz answered (), When Joab sent () the king’s servant , and [me] thy servant , I saw () a great tumult , but I knew () not what [it was].
[30] And the king said () [unto him], Turn aside (), [and] stand () here . And he turned aside (), and stood still ().
[31] And, behold, Cushi came (); and Cushi said (), Tidings (), my lord the king : for the LORD hath avenged () thee this day of all them that rose up () against thee.
[32] And the king said () unto Cushi , Is the young man Absalom safe ? And Cushi answered (), The enemies () of my lord the king , and all that rise () against thee to do [thee] hurt , be as [that] young man [is].
[33] And the king was much moved (), and went up () to the chamber over the gate , and wept (): and as he went (), thus he said (), O my son Absalom , my son , my son Absalom ! would God I had died () for thee (), O Absalom , my son , my son !

Young’s Literal Translation

2 Samuel 18 (YLT)

[1] And David inspecteth the people who are with him, and setteth over them heads of thousands and heads of hundreds,
[2] and David sendeth the third of the people by the hand of Joab, and the third by the hand of Abishai, son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, and the third by the hand of Ittai the Gittite, and the king saith unto the people, ‘I certainly go out-I also-with you.’
[3] And the people say, ‘Thou dost not go out, for if we utterly flee, they do not set their heart upon us; and if half of us die, they do not set their heart unto us-for now like us are ten thousand; and now, better that thou be to us from the city for an helper.’
[4] And the king saith unto them, ‘That which is good in your eyes I do;’ and the king standeth at the side of the gate, and all the people have gone out by hundreds and by thousands,
[5] and the king chargeth Joab, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, ‘Gently-for me, for the youth, for Absalom;’ and all the people heard in the king’s charging all the heads concerning Absalom.
[6] And the people goeth out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle is in a forest of Ephraim;
[7] and smitten there are the people of Israel before the servants of David, and the smiting there is great on that day-twenty thousand;
[8] and the battle is there scattered over the face of all the land, and the forest multiplieth to devour among the people more than those whom the sword hath devoured in that day.
[9] And Absalom meeteth before the servants of David, and Absalom is riding on the mule, and the mule cometh in under an entangled bough of the great oak, and his head taketh hold on the oak, and he is placed between the heavens and the earth, and the mule that is under him hath passed on.
[10] And one man seeth, and declareth to Joab, and saith, ‘Lo, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.’
[11] And Joab saith to the man who is declaring it to him, ‘And lo, thou hast seen-and wherefore didst thou not smite him there to the earth-and on me to give to thee ten silverlings and one girdle?’
[12] And the man saith unto Joab, ‘Yea, though I am weighing on my hand a thousand silverlings, I do not put forth my hand unto the son of the king; for in our ears hath the king charged thee, and Abishai, and Ittai, saying, Observe ye who is against the youth-against Absalom;
[13] or I had done against my soul a vain thing, and no matter is hid from the king, and thou-thou dost station thyself over-against.’
[14] And Joab saith, ‘Not right-I tarry before thee;’ and he taketh three darts in his hand, and striketh them into the heart of Absalom, while he is alive, in the midst of the oak.
[15] And they go round-ten youths bearing weapons of Joab-and smite Absalom, and put him to death.
[16] And Joab bloweth with a trumpet, and the people turneth back from pursuing after Israel, for Joab hath kept back the people;
[17] and they take Absalom and cast him in the forest unto the great pit, and set up over him a very great heap of stones, and all Israel have fled-each to his tent.
[18] And Absalom hath taken, and setteth up for himself in his life, the standing-pillar that is in the king’s valley, for he said, ‘I have no son to cause my name to be remembered;’ and he calleth the standing-pillar by his own name, and it is called ‘The monument of Absalom’ unto this day.
[19] And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run, I pray thee, and I bear the king tidings, for Jehovah hath delivered him out of the hand of his enemies;’
[20] and Joab saith to him, ‘Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king’s son is dead.’
[21] And Joab saith to Cushi, ‘Go, declare to the king that which thou hast seen;’ and Cushi boweth himself to Joab, and runneth.
[22] And Ahimaaz son of Zadok addeth again, and saith unto Joab, ‘And whatever it be, let me run, I pray thee, I also, after the Cushite.’ And Joab saith, ‘Why is this-thou art running, my son, and for thee there are no tidings found?’-
[23] ‘And, whatever it be, said he, let me run.’ And he saith to him, ‘Run;’ and Ahimaaz runneth the way of the circuit, and passeth by the Cushite.
[24] And David is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.
[25] And the watchman calleth, and declareth to the king, and the king saith, ‘If by himself, tidings are in his mouth;’ and he cometh, coming on and drawing near.
[26] And the watchman seeth another man running, and the watchman calleth unto the gatekeeper, and saith, ‘Lo, a man running by himself;’ and the king saith, ‘Also this one is bearing tidings.’
[27] And the watchman saith, ‘I see the running of the first as the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.’ And the king saith, ‘This is a good man, and with good tidings he cometh.’
[28] And Ahimaaz calleth and saith unto the king, ‘Peace;’ and he boweth himself to the king, on his face, to the earth, and saith, ‘Blessed is Jehovah thy God who hath shut up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.’
[29] And the king saith, ‘Peace to the youth-to Absalom?’ And Ahimaaz saith, ‘I saw the great multitude, at the sending away of the servant of the king, even thy servant by Joab, and I have not known what it is.’
[30] And the king saith, ‘Turn round, station thyself here;’ and he turneth round and standeth still.
[31] And lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, ‘Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising up against thee.’
[32] And the king saith unto the Cushite, ‘Peace to the youth-to Absalom?’ And the Cushite saith, ‘Let them be-as the youth-the enemies of my lord the king, and all who have risen up against thee for evil.’
[33] And the king trembleth, and goeth up on the upper chamber of the gate, and weepeth, and thus he hath said in his going, ‘My son! Absalom my son; my son Absalom; oh that I had died for thee, Absalom, my son, my son.’