the LORD liveth, there shall not a hair of thy son fall to the earth.

And the woman said, Let thy handmaid say something unto my lord the king. And he said, Tell me.

And the woman said, Why hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God, that the king hath spoken such a thing, that he should be guilty, and that he should not bring again his outcast?

For we die, and as the waters that are carried away into the earth are not stopped: and God will not take away life, but will take heed lest that which is cast out be cast out of him.

Now therefore I am come to speak these things unto my lord the king: for the people made me afraid. For thy handmaid thought: I will speak unto the king; peradventure he will do that which his handmaid saith.

For he will hear his handmaid, and deliver me out of the hand of all them that would destroy me and my son from the inheritance of God.

And thy handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall be a comfort unto me: for my lord the king is as an angel of God, that he may hear good and evil. Therefore the LORD thy God shall be with thee.

And the king answered and said unto the woman, Deny me not that which I ask thee. And the woman said, My lord the king, speak.

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, there is none other, neither on the right hand, nor on the left, but as my lord the king hath spoken. For Joab thy servant commanded me, and he gave all these things unto thy handmaid.

That I should thus turn this matter, thy servant Joab hath done it. But my lord is wise, as the wisdom of an angel of God, that he knoweth all things in the earth.

And the king said unto Joab, Behold, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring again the lad Absalom.

And Joab fell on his face to the ground, and worshipped, and thanked the king, and said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord the king, that the king doeth what his servant saith.

So Joab arose, and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.

And the king said, Let him go into his house again, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his house, and saw not the king’s face.

And there was no man in all Israel so fair as Absalom, and had this praise above all: from the
sole of his foot even to the crown of his head was there not a blemish in him.

And it came to pass, when they shaved his head, that it was shaved every year, because it was too heavy for him to be shaved, that the hair of his head weighed two hundred shekels by the king’s weight.

And unto Absalom were born three sons, and a daughter, whose name was Tamar, a woman fair in form.

So Absalom tarried two years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king’s face.

And Absalom sent to Joab to send him to the king, and he would not come to him. And he sent again, and he would not come.

And he said unto his servants: Behold, the piece of Joab’s field is by mine, and he hath barley thereon; go ye, and set it on fire. So Absalom’s servants set the piece on fire.

And Joab arose, and came into Absalom’s house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my piece on fire?

And Absalom said unto Joab, Behold, I sent for thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, saying, Why am I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still here. Now therefore let me see the king’s face: but if there be any iniquity in me, slay me.

And Joab went in unto the king, and told him. And he called unto Absalom to come in unto the king: and he worshipped upon his face to the earth before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.
(2 Samuel)
Chapter 15
David flees from his rebellious son Absalom.

And it came to pass afterward, that Absalom made him chariots, and horses, and fifty men to carry him.

And Absalom rose up early in the morning, and stood by the way of the gate. And it came to pass, when any man had a bargain to come before the king in judgment, that Absalom called him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is one of the tribes of Israel, 3. Thus spake. And Absalom said unto him, Behold, thy cause is just and evil; but thou hast no interrogator from the king.

And Absalom said, Who shall make me a judge in the land, that every man may come to me that hath a cause and a judgment, and that I may set him right?

And if any man came near to him to worship him, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.

In this manner did Absalom to all Israel, when they came before the king in judgment: so he stole the heart of the men of Israel.

And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king: I will go and perform my vow at Hebron, which I have vowed unto the LORD.

For thy servant made a vow, when I dwelt at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD bring me again to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD.

And the king said unto him, Go in peace. And he arose, and went to Hebron.

And Absalom sent out spies into all the tribes of Israel, saying, When ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then say, Absalom is become king in Hebron.

And there went with Absalom two hundred men, called from Jerusalem: but they went in their simplicity, and knew not the matter.

And Absalom sent also to Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counsel, out of Gib his city. And it came to pass, when he had offered the sacrifices, that the covenant was strengthened: and the people ran and multiplied with Absalom.

And there came one, and told David, saying, The heart of every man in Israel follow Absalom.

And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Come, and let us flee; for here shall be no escape from Absalom: make haste that we go, lest he overtake us, and take us, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.

And the king’s servants said unto him, What my lord the king hath mentioned, behold, here
are thy servants.

And the king went out on foot with all his household. And he sent ten concubines to keep the house.

And when the king and all the people were come out on foot, they stood afar off from the house.

And all his servants went beside him, and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came from Gath on foot, went before the king.

And the king said unto Ithai the Gittite, Why goest thou also with us? Turn again, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and art come hither out of thy place.

Yesterday thou camest, and to day thou darest to go with us. But I will go where I may go.
Return, and to thy brethren with thee be mercy and faithfulness.

And Ithai answered and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, in what place my lord the king shall be, whether it be death or life, there shall thy servant be also.

And David said unto Ithai, Come then, and go with me. So went Ithai the Gittite, and all his men, and all the multitude of the children that were with him.

And all the land wept with a loud voice, and all the people went with him. And the king passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people went forward by the way of the wilderness.

And, behold, Zadok also was there, and all the Levites that were with him; and they bare the ark of the covenant of God, and set it there. And Abiathar went up, until all the people came out unto the city.

But the king said unto Zadok: Bring again the ark of GOD into the city. If I find favor in the sight of the LORD, he will bring me again, and will let me see it, and his house.

And thus saith he: I have no desire for thee: behold, here am I, and he will do with me as he pleaseth?

And the king said unto Zadok the priest: O seer, return again into the city with peace, and with you your two sons, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

Behold, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until tidings come from you, and they shall tell me.

So Zadok and Abiathar brought the ark of God again to Jerusalem, and abode there.

And David went up the mount of Olives, and wept, and his head was covered with a veil, and he went barefooted. And all the people that were with him had every man his head covered, and went up weeping.

And when it was told David that Ahithophel was in league with Absalom, he said, Lord, make the counsel of Ahithophel foolish.

And when David was come up