1 And it came1961 to pass after310 this,3651 that Absalom53 prepared6213 him chariots4818 and horses,5483 and fifty2572 men376 to run7323 before6440 him.

2 And Absalom53 rose7925 up early,7925 and stood beside5921 3027 the way1870 of the gate:8179 and it was so, that when any3605 man376 that had1961 a controversy7379 came935 to the king4428 for judgment,4941 then Absalom53 called7121 to him, and said,559 Of what4310 city5892 are you? And he said,559 Your servant5650 is of one259 of the tribes7626 of Israel.3478

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

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

5 And it was so, that when any man376 came7126 near7126 to him to do him obeisance,7812 he put7971 forth7971 his hand,3027 and took2388 him, and kissed5401 him.

6 And on this2088 manner1697 did6213 Absalom53 to all3605 Israel3478 that came935 to the king4428 for judgment:4941 so Absalom53 stole1589 the hearts3820 of the men582 of Israel.3478

7 And it came1961 to pass after7093 forty705 years,8141 that Absalom53 said559 to the king,4428 I pray4994 you, let me go3212 and pay7999 my vow,5088 which834 I have vowed5087 to the LORD,3068 in Hebron.2275

8 For your servant5650 vowed5087 a vow5088 while I stayed3427 at Geshur1650 in Syria,758 saying,559 If518 the LORD3068 shall bring7725 me again7725 indeed to Jerusalem,3389 then I will serve5647 the LORD.3068

9 And the king4428 said559 to him, Go3212 in peace.7965 So he arose,6965 and went3212 to Hebron.2275

10 But Absalom53 sent7971 spies7270 throughout all3605 the tribes7626 of Israel,3478 saying,559 As soon as you hear8085 the sound6963 of the trumpet,7782 then you shall say,559 Absalom53 reigns4427 in Hebron.2275

11 And with Absalom53 went1980 two hundred3967 men376 out of Jerusalem,3389 that were called;7121 and they went1980 in their simplicity,8537 and they knew3045 not any3605 thing.1697

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

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

14 And David1732 said559 to all3605 his servants5650 that were with him at Jerusalem,3389 Arise,6965 and let us flee;1272 for we shall not else escape6413 from Absalom:53 make speed4116 to depart,3212 lest6435 he overtake5381 us suddenly,4116 and bring5080 evil7451 on us, and smite5221 the city5892 with the edge6310 of the sword.2719

15 And the king's4428 servants5650 said559 to the king,4428 Behold,2009 your servants5650 are ready to do whatever3605 834 my lord113 the king4428 shall appoint.977

16 And the king4428 went3318 forth,3318 and all3605 his household1004 after7272 him. And the king4428 left5800 ten6235 women,802 which834 were concubines,6370 to keep8104 the house.1004

17 And the king4428 went3318 forth,3318 and all3605 the people5971 after7272 him, and tarried5975 in a place1004 that was far4801 off.

18 And all3605 his servants5650 passed5674 on 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,1661 passed5674 on before5921 6440 the king.4428

19 Then said559 the king4428 to Ittai863 the Gittite,1663 Why4100 go3212 you also1571 with us? return7725 to your place,4725 and abide3427 with the king:4428 for you are a stranger,5237 and also1571 an exile.1540

20 Whereas you came935 but yesterday,8543 should I this day3117 make you go3212 up and down5128 with us? seeing I go1980 where5921 834 I may, return7725 you, and take back7725 your brothers:251 mercy2617 and truth571 be with you.

21 And Ittai863 answered6030 the king,4428 and said,559 As the LORD3068 lives,2416 and as my lord113 the king4428 lives,2416 surely3588 in what834 place4725 my lord113 the king4428 shall be, whether518 in death4194 or life,2416 even3588 there8033 also will your servant5650 be.

22 And David1732 said559 to Ittai,863 Go3212 and pass5674 over.5674 And Ittai863 the Gittite1663 passed5674 over,5674 and all3605 his men,582 and all3605 the little2945 ones that were with him.

23 And all3605 the country776 wept1058 with a loud1419 voice,6963 and all3605 the people5971 passed5674 over:5674 the king4428 also himself passed5674 over5674 the brook5158 Kidron,6939 and all3605 the people5971 passed5674 over,5674 toward5921 6440 the way1870 of the wilderness.4057

24 And see2009 Zadok6659 also,1571 and all3605 the Levites3881 were with him, bearing5375 the ark727 of the covenant1285 of God:430 and they set3332 down3332 the ark727 of God;430 and Abiathar54 went5927 up, until5704 all3605 the people5971 had done8552 passing5674 out of the city.5892

25 And the king4428 said559 to Zadok,6659 Carry7725 back7725 the ark727 of God430 into the city:5892 if518 I shall find4672 favor2580 in the eyes5869 of the LORD,3068 he will bring7725 me again,7725 and show7200 me both it, and his habitation:5116

26 But if518 he thus3541 say,559 I have no3808 delight2654 in you; behold,2005 here am I, let him do6213 to me as seems5869 good2896 to him.

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

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

29 Zadok6659 therefore and Abiathar54 carried7725 the ark727 of God430 again7725 to Jerusalem:3389 and they tarried3427 there.8033

30 And David1732 went5927 up by the ascent4608 of mount Olivet,2132 and wept1058 as he went5927 up, and had his head7218 covered,2645 and he went1980 barefoot:3182 and all3605 the people5971 that was with him covered2645 every man376 his head,7218 and they went5927 up, weeping1058 as they went5927 up.

31 And one told5046 David,1732 saying,559 Ahithophel302 is among the conspirators7194 with Absalom.53 And David1732 said,559 O LORD,3068 I pray4994 you, turn the counsel6098 of Ahithophel302 into foolishness.5528

32 And it came1961 to pass, that when David1732 was come935 to the top7218 of the mount, where834 8033 he worshipped7812 God,430 behold,2009 Hushai2365 the Archite757 came to meet7125 him with his coat3801 rent,7167 and earth127 on his head:7218

33 To whom David1732 said,559 If518 you pass5674 on with me, then you shall be a burden4853 to me:

34 But if518 you return7725 to the city,5892 and say559 to Absalom,53 I will be your servant,5650 O king;4428 as I have been1961 your father's1 servant5650 till now,227 so will I now6258 also be your servant:5650 then may you for me defeat6565 the counsel6098 of Ahithophel.302

35 And have you not there8033 with you Zadok6659 and Abiathar54 the priests?3548 therefore it shall be, that what3605 thing1697 soever834 you shall hear8085 out of the king's4428 house,1004 you shall tell5046 it to Zadok6659 and Abiathar54 the priests.3548

36 Behold,2009 they have there8033 with them their two8147 sons,1121 Ahimaaz290 Zadok's6659 son, and Jonathan3083 Abiathar's54 son; and by them you shall send7971 to me every3605 thing1697 that you can hear.8085

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