Ziba, a False Servant

16 Now when David had passed ^(A)a little beyond the summit, behold, ^(B)Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him ^(C)with a couple of saddled donkeys, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a jug of wine. ² The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “^(D)The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine, ^(E)for whoever is faint in the wilderness to drink.” ³ Then the king said, “And where is ^(F)your master’s son?” And ^(G)Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.’” ⁴ So the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I prostrate myself; let me find favor in your sight, O my lord, the king!”

David Is Cursed

⁵ When King David came to ^(H)Bahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul ^(I)whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ^(J)cursing continually as he came. ⁶ He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left. ⁷ Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, ^(K)you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! ^8 (L)The Lord has returned upon you all ^(M)the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

⁹ Then ^(N)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should ^(O)this dead dog ^(P)curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and ^[a]cut off his head.” ¹⁰ But the king said, “^(Q)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? ^(R)If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ ^(S)then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” ¹¹ Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, ^(T)my son who came out from ^[b]me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, ^(U)for the Lord has told him. ¹² Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and ^[c](V)return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” ¹³ So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him. ¹⁴ The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.

Absalom Enters Jerusalem

^15 (W)Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. ¹⁶ Now it came about when ^(X)Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that ^(Y)Hushai said to Absalom, “^(Z)Long live the king! Long live the king!” ¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your ^[d]loyalty to your friend? ^(AA)Why did you not go with your friend?” ¹⁸ Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No! For whom the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. ¹⁹ Besides, ^(AB)whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so I will be in your presence.”

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?” ²¹ Ahithophel said to Absalom, “^(AC)Go in to your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father. The hands of all who are with you will also be strengthened.” ²² So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, ^(AD)and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines ^(AE)in the sight of all Israel. ^23 (AF)The advice of Ahithophel, which he ^[e]gave in those days, was as if one inquired of the word of God; ^(AG)so was all the advice of Ahithophel regarded by both David and Absalom.

Be Strong

2 You therefore, my ^[a](A)son, ^(B)be strong in the grace that is in ^(C)Christ Jesus. ² The things ^(D)which you have heard from me in the presence of ^(E)many witnesses, ^(F)entrust these to ^(G)faithful men who will be ^(H)able to teach others also. ^3 (I)Suffer hardship with me, as a good ^(J)soldier of ^(K)Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier in active service ^(L)entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ Also if anyone ^(M)competes as an athlete, he ^[b]does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. ^6 (N)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, ^(O)risen from the dead, ^(P)descendant of David, ^(Q)according to my gospel, ^9 [c]for which I ^(R)suffer hardship even to ^(S)imprisonment as a ^(T)criminal; but ^(U)the word of God ^(V)is not imprisoned. ¹⁰ For this reason ^(W)I endure all things for ^(X)the sake of those who are chosen, ^(Y)so that they also may obtain the ^(Z)salvation which is in ^(AA)Christ Jesus and with it ^(AB)eternal glory. ^11 (AC)It is a trustworthy statement:

An Unashamed Workman

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(AI)charge them in the presence of God not to ^(AJ)wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to ^(AK)present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(AL)the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(AM)avoid ^(AN)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[e]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their ^[f]talk will spread like ^[g]gangrene. Among them are ^(AO)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth saying that ^(AP)the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset ^(AQ)the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the ^(AR)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(AS)seal, “^(AT)The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “^(AU)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and ^(AV)some to honor and some to dishonor. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(AW)these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(AX)prepared for every good work. ²² Now ^(AY)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(AZ)faith, love and peace, with those who ^(BA)call on the Lord ^(BB)from a pure heart. ²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(BC)speculations, knowing that they ^(BD)produce ^[h]quarrels. ^24 (BE)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(BF)able to teach, patient when wronged, ^25 (BG)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(BH)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(BI)the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(BJ)the snare of the devil, having been ^(BK)held captive ^[i]by him to do his will.