19 Then the king said to (A)Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you go with us too? Return and stay with [a]your king, since you are a foreigner and an exile as well; return to your own place. 20 You came only yesterday, so should I make you wander with us today, while (B)I go wherever I go? Return and take your brothers back; (C)mercy and [b]truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, (D)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there assuredly shall your servant be!” 22 Then David said to Ittai, “Go and cross over the brook Kidron.” So Ittai the Gittite crossed over with all his men and all the [c]little ones who were with him. 23 While all the country was weeping with a loud voice, all the people were crossing over. The king was also crossing over (E)the brook Kidron, and all the people were crossing over toward (F)the way of the wilderness.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 15:19 Lit the king
  2. 2 Samuel 15:20 Or faithfulness
  3. 2 Samuel 15:22 I.e., children; here, families of the men

19 Then the king said to (A)Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner and also an exile from your own place. 20 In fact, you came only yesterday. Should I make you wander up and down with us today, since I go (B)I know not where? Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.”

21 But Ittai answered the king and said, (C)As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

22 So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. 23 And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people crossed over. The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the (D)wilderness.

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