1 And it came to pass1961 after4480 310 this,3651 that Absalom53 prepared6213 him chariots4818 and horses,5483 and fifty2572 men376 to run7323 before6440 him.

2 And Absalom53 rose up early,7925 and stood5975 beside5921 3027 the way1870 of the gate:8179 and it was1961 so, that when any3605 man376 that834 had1961 a controversy7379 came935 to413 the king4428 for judgment,4941 then Absalom53 called7121 unto413 him, and said,559 Of4480 2088 what335 city5892 art thou?859 And he said,559 Thy servant5650 is of one4480 259 of the tribes7626 of Israel.3478

3 And Absalom53 said559 unto413 him, See,7200 thy matters1697 are good2896 and right;5228 but there is no369 man deputed of the king4428 to hear8085 thee.

4 Absalom53 said559 moreover, Oh that4310 I were made7760 judge8199 in the land,776 that every3605 man376 which834 hath1961 any suit7379 or cause4941 might come935 unto5921 me, and I would do him justice!6663

5 And it was1961 so, that when any man376 came nigh7126 to him to do him obeisance,7812 he put forth7971 853 his hand,3027 and took2388 him, and kissed5401 him.

6 And on this2088 manner1697 did6213 Absalom53 to all3605 Israel3478 that834 came935 to413 the king4428 for judgment:4941 so Absalom53 stole1589 853 the hearts3820 of the men376 of Israel.3478

7 And it came to pass1961 after4480 7093 forty705 years,8141 that Absalom53 said559 unto413 the king,4428 I pray thee,4994 let me go1980 and pay7999 853 my vow,5088 which834 I have vowed5087 unto the LORD,3068 in Hebron.2275

8 For3588 thy servant5650 vowed5087 a vow5088 while I abode3427 at Geshur1650 in Syria,758 saying,559 If518 the LORD3068 shall bring me again7725 indeed to Jerusalem,3389 then I will serve5647 853 the LORD.3068

9 And the king4428 said559 unto him, Go1980 in peace.7965 So he arose,6965 and went1980 to Hebron.2275

10 But Absalom53 sent7971 spies7270 throughout all3605 the tribes7626 of Israel,3478 saying,559 As soon as ye hear8085 853 the sound6963 of the trumpet,7782 then ye shall say,559 Absalom53 reigneth4427 in Hebron.2275

11 And with854 Absalom53 went1980 two hundred3967 men376 out of Jerusalem,4480 3389 that were called;7121 and they went1980 in their simplicity,8537 and they knew3045 not3808 any3605 thing.1697

12 And Absalom53 sent7971 for853 Ahithophel302 the Gilonite,1526 David's1732 counselor,3289 from his city,5892 even from Giloh,4480 1542 while he offered2076 853 sacrifices.2077 And the conspiracy7195 was1961 strong;533 for the people5971 increased7227 continually1980 with854 Absalom.53

13 And there came935 a messenger5046 to413 David,1732 saying,559 The hearts3820 of the men376 of Israel3478 are1961 after310 Absalom.53

14 And David1732 said559 unto all3605 his servants5650 that834 were with854 him at Jerusalem,3389 Arise,6965 and let us flee;1227 for3588 we shall1961 not3808 else escape6413 from4480 6640 Absalom:53 make speed4116 to depart,1980 lest6435 he overtake5381 us suddenly,4116 and bring5080 853 evil7451 upon5921 us, and smite5221 the city5892 with the edge6310 of the sword.2719

15 And the king's4428 servants5650 said559 unto413 the king,4428 Behold,2009 thy servants5650 are ready to do whatsoever834 3605 my lord113 the king4428 shall appoint.977

16 And the king4428 went forth,3318 and all3605 his household1004 after7272 him. And the king4428 left5800 853 ten6235 women,802 which were concubines,6370 to keep8104 the house.1004

17 And the king4428 went forth,3318 and all3605 the people5971 after7272 him, and tarried5975 in a place1004 that was far off.4801

18 And all3605 his servants5650 passed on5674 beside5921 3027 him; and all3605 the Cherethites,3774 and all3605 the Pelethites,6432 and all3605 the Gittites,1663 six8337 hundred3967 men376 which834 came935 after7272 him from Gath,4480 1661 passed on5674 before5921 6440 the king.4428

19 Then said559 the king4428 to413 Ittai863 the Gittite,1663 Wherefore4100 goest1980 thou859 also1571 with854 us? return7725 to thy place,4725 and abide3427 with5973 the king:4428 for3588 thou859 art a stranger,5237 and also1571 an exile.1540

20 Whereas thou camest935 but yesterday,8543 should I this day3117 make thee go up1980 and down5128 with5973 us? seeing I589 go1980 whither5921 834 I589 may,1980 return7725 thou, and take back7725 853 thy brethren:251 mercy2617 and truth571 be with5973 thee.

21 And Ittai863 answered6030 853 the king,4428 and said,559 As the LORD3068 liveth,2416 and as my lord113 the king4428 liveth,2416 surely3588 518 in what834 place4725 my lord113 the king4428 shall be,1961 whether518 in death4194 or518 life,2416 even3588 there8033 also will thy servant5650 be.1961

22 And David1732 said559 to413 Ittai,863 Go1980 and pass over.5674 And Ittai863 the Gittite1663 passed over,5674 and all3605 his men,376 and all3605 the little ones2945 that834 were with854 him.

23 And all3605 the country776 wept1058 with a loud1419 voice,6963 and all3605 the people5971 passed over:5674 the king4428 also himself passed over5674 the brook5158 Kidron,6939 and all3605 the people5971 passed over,5674 toward5921 6440 the way1870 of853 the wilderness.4057

24 And lo2009 Zadok6659 also,1571 and all3605 the Levites3881 were with854 him, bearing5375 853 the ark727 of the covenant1285 of God:430 and they set down3332 853 the ark727 of God;430 and Abiathar54 went up,5927 until5704 all3605 the people5971 had done8552 passing5674 out of4480 the city.5892

25 And the king4428 said559 unto Zadok,6659 Carry back7725 853 the ark727 of God430 into the city:5892 if518 I shall find4672 favor2580 in the eyes5869 of the LORD,3068 he will bring me again,7725 and show7200 me both it, and his habitation: 5116

26 But if518 he thus3541 say,559 I have no3808 delight2654 in thee; behold,2009 here am I, let him do6213 to me as834 seemeth5869 good2896 unto him.

27 The king4428 said559 also unto413 Zadok6659 the priest,3548 Art not thou859 a seer?7200 return7725 into the city5892 in peace,7965 and your two8147 sons1121 with854 you, Ahimaaz290 thy son,1121 and Jonathan3083 the son1121 of Abiathar.54

28 See,7200 I595 will tarry4102 in the plain6160 of the wilderness,4057 until5704 there come935 word1697 from4480 5973 you to certify5046 me.

29 Zadok6659 therefore and Abiathar54 carried7725 853 the ark727 of God430 again to Jerusalem:3389 and they tarried3427 there.8033

30 And David1732 went up5927 by the ascent4608 of mount Olivet,2132 and wept1058 as he went up,5927 and had his head7218 covered,2645 and he1931 went1980 barefoot:3182 and all3605 the people5971 that834 was with854 him covered2645 every man376 his head,7218 and they went up,5927 weeping1058 as they went up.5927

31 And one told5046 David,1732 saying,559 Ahithophel302 is among the conspirators7194 with5973 Absalom.53 And David1732 said,559 O LORD,3068 I pray thee,4994 turn853 the counsel6098 of Ahithophel302 into foolishness.5528

32 And it came to pass,1961 that when David1732 was come935 to5704 the top7218 of the mount, where834 he worshiped7812 God,430 behold,2009 Hushai2365 the Archite757 came to meet7125 him with his coat3801 rent,7167 and earth127 upon5921 his head: 7218

33 Unto whom David1732 said,559 If518 thou passest on5674 with854 me, then thou shalt be1961 a burden4853 unto5921 me:

34 But if518 thou return7725 to the city,5892 and say559 unto Absalom,53 I589 will be1961 thy servant,5650 O king;4428 as I589 have been thy father's1 servant5650 hitherto,4480 227 so will I589 now6258 also be thy servant:5650 then mayest thou for me defeat6565 853 the counsel6098 of Ahithophel.302

35 And hast thou not3808 there8033 with5973 thee Zadok6659 and Abiathar54 the priests?3548 therefore it shall be,1961 that what3605 thing1697 soever834 thou shalt hear8085 out of the king's house,4480 1004 4428 thou shalt tell5046 it to Zadok6659 and Abiathar54 the priests.3548

36 Behold,2009 they have there8033 with5973 them their two8147 sons,1121 Ahimaaz290 Zadok's6659 son, and Jonathan3083 Abiathar's54 son; and by3027 them ye shall send7971 unto413 me every3605 thing1697 that834 ye can hear.8085

37 So Hushai2365 David's1732 friend7463 came935 into the city,5892 and Absalom53 came935 into Jerusalem.3389