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2 Samuel 15:19-23
New International Version
2 Samuel 15:19-23
New International Version
19 The king said to Ittai(A) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,(B) an exile from your homeland. 20 You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander(C) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”[a](D)
21 But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”(E)
22 David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.
23 The whole countryside wept aloud(F) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,(G) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 15:20 Septuagint; Hebrew May kindness and faithfulness be with you
2 Samuel 15:19-23
Common English Bible
2 Samuel 15:19-23
Common English Bible
19 The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you coming with us too? Go back! Stay with King Absalom.[a] You are a foreigner and an exile from your own country. 20 You just got here yesterday. So today should I make you wander around with us while I go wherever I have to go? No. Go back, and take your relatives with you. May the Lord show you loyal love and faithfulness.”[b]
21 But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the Lord lives and as surely as my master the king lives, wherever my master the king may be, facing death or facing life, your servant will be there too.”
22 “Okay then,” David replied to Ittai. “Keep marching!”
So Ittai the Gittite and all of his men and all the little children with him marched past. 23 The whole countryside cried loudly as all the troops marched past. The king crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the troops passed by on the Olive road[c] into the wilderness.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 15:19 Heb lacks Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 15:20 LXX; MT lacks may the Lord show you.
- 2 Samuel 15:23 LXXL; MT lacks Olive.
2 Samuel 15:19-23
King James Version
2 Samuel 15:19-23
King James Version
19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20 Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22 And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
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New International Version (NIV) 
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Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible