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2 Samuel 14
New American Standard Bible 1995
2 Samuel 14
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Woman of Tekoa
14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that (A)the king’s heart was inclined toward Absalom. 2 So Joab sent to (B)Tekoa and [a]brought a wise woman from there and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments now, and do not (C)anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days; 3 then go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put (D)the words in her mouth.
4 Now when the woman of Tekoa [b]spoke to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and (E)prostrated herself and said, “(F)Help, O king.” 5 The king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she [c]answered, “Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead. 6 Your maidservant had two sons, but the two of them struggled together in the field, and there was no [d]one to separate them, so one struck the other and killed him. 7 Now behold, (G)the whole family has risen against your maidservant, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, (H)and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which is left, so as to [e]leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.” 9 The woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord, the king, (I)the iniquity is on me and my father’s house, but (J)the king and his throne are guiltless.” 10 So the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.” 11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember the Lord your God, (K)so that the avenger of blood will not continue to destroy, otherwise they will destroy my son.” And he said, “(L)As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your maidservant speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” 13 The woman said, “(M)Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back (N)his banished one. 14 For (O)we will surely die and are (P)like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but plans [f]ways so that (Q)the banished one will not be cast out from him. 15 Now [g]the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is that the people have made me afraid; so your maidservant said, ‘Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the [h]request of his maidservant. 16 For the king will hear [i]and deliver his maidservant from the [j]hand of the man who would destroy [k]both me and my son from (R)the inheritance of God.’ 17 Then your maidservant said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be [l]comforting, for as (S)the angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and evil. And may the Lord your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.” 19 So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman replied, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was (T)your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant; 20 in order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, (U)like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.”
Absalom Is Recalled
21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, (V)I will surely do this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the [m]request of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to (W)Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 However the king said, “Let him turn to (X)his own house, and let him not see my face.” So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.
25 Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; (Y)from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no defect in him. 26 When he (Z)cut the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he cut it, for it was heavy on him so he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels by the king’s weight. 27 (AA)To Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was (AB)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
28 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, (AC)and did not see the king’s face. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he would not come. 30 Therefore he said to his servants, “See, (AD)Joab’s [n]field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the [o]field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my [p]field on fire?” 32 Absalom [q]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there.”’ Now therefore, let me see the king’s face, (AE)and if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death.” 33 So when Joab came to the king and told him, he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his face to the ground before the king, and (AF)the king kissed Absalom.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 14:2 Lit took
- 2 Samuel 14:4 Many mss and ancient versions read came
- 2 Samuel 14:5 Lit said
- 2 Samuel 14:6 Lit deliverer between
- 2 Samuel 14:7 Lit set
- 2 Samuel 14:14 Lit devices
- 2 Samuel 14:15 Lit that
- 2 Samuel 14:15 Lit word
- 2 Samuel 14:16 Lit to
- 2 Samuel 14:16 Lit palm
- 2 Samuel 14:16 Lit together
- 2 Samuel 14:17 Lit for rest
- 2 Samuel 14:22 Lit word
- 2 Samuel 14:30 Lit portion
- 2 Samuel 14:30 Lit portion
- 2 Samuel 14:31 Lit portion
- 2 Samuel 14:32 Lit said to
2 Samuel 14
New International Version
2 Samuel 14
New International Version
Absalom Returns to Jerusalem
14 Joab(A) son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. 2 So Joab sent someone to Tekoa(B) and had a wise woman(C) brought from there. He said to her, “Pretend you are in mourning. Dress in mourning clothes, and don’t use any cosmetic lotions.(D) Act like a woman who has spent many days grieving for the dead. 3 Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab(E) put the words in her mouth.
4 When the woman from Tekoa went[a] to the king, she fell with her face to the ground to pay him honor, and she said, “Help me, Your Majesty!”
5 The king asked her, “What is troubling you?”
She said, “I am a widow; my husband is dead. 6 I your servant had two sons. They got into a fight with each other in the field, and no one was there to separate them. One struck the other and killed him. 7 Now the whole clan has risen up against your servant; they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death(F) for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir(G) as well.’ They would put out the only burning coal I have left,(H) leaving my husband neither name nor descendant on the face of the earth.”
8 The king said to the woman, “Go home,(I) and I will issue an order in your behalf.”
9 But the woman from Tekoa said to him, “Let my lord the king pardon(J) me and my family,(K) and let the king and his throne be without guilt.(L)”
10 The king replied, “If anyone says anything to you, bring them to me, and they will not bother you again.”
11 She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger(M) of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.”
“As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair(N) of your son’s head will fall to the ground.(O)”
12 Then the woman said, “Let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.”
“Speak,” he replied.
13 The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself,(P) for the king has not brought back his banished son?(Q) 14 Like water(R) spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.(S) But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person(T) does not remain banished from him.
15 “And now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; perhaps he will grant his servant’s request. 16 Perhaps the king will agree to deliver his servant from the hand of the man who is trying to cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’(U)
17 “And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king secure my inheritance, for my lord the king is like an angel(V) of God in discerning(W) good and evil. May the Lord your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king said to the woman, “Don’t keep from me the answer to what I am going to ask you.”
“Let my lord the king speak,” the woman said.
19 The king asked, “Isn’t the hand of Joab(X) with you in all this?”
The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything my lord the king says. Yes, it was your servant Joab who instructed me to do this and who put all these words into the mouth of your servant. 20 Your servant Joab did this to change the present situation. My lord has wisdom(Y) like that of an angel of God—he knows everything that happens in the land.(Z)”
21 The king said to Joab, “Very well, I will do it. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.”
22 Joab fell with his face to the ground to pay him honor, and he blessed the king.(AA) Joab said, “Today your servant knows that he has found favor in your eyes, my lord the king, because the king has granted his servant’s request.”
23 Then Joab went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. 24 But the king said, “He must go to his own house; he must not see my face.” So Absalom went to his own house and did not see the face of the king.
25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 26 Whenever he cut the hair of his head(AB)—he used to cut his hair once a year because it became too heavy for him—he would weigh it, and its weight was two hundred shekels[b] by the royal standard.
27 Three sons(AC) and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar,(AD) and she became a beautiful woman.
28 Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s face. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab in order to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. So he sent a second time, but he refused to come. 30 Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley(AE) there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.
31 Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house, and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?(AF)”
32 Absalom said to Joab, “Look, I sent word to you and said, ‘Come here so I can send you to the king to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur?(AG) It would be better for me if I were still there!”’ Now then, I want to see the king’s face, and if I am guilty of anything, let him put me to death.”(AH)
33 So Joab went to the king and told him this. Then the king summoned Absalom, and he came in and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king. And the king kissed(AI) Absalom.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 14:4 Many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts spoke
- 2 Samuel 14:26 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
Proverbs 29:22-27
New American Standard Bible 1995
Proverbs 29:22-27
New American Standard Bible 1995
22 An (A)angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
23 A man’s (B)pride will bring him low,
But a (C)humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He (D)hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The (E)fear of man [a]brings a snare,
But he who (F)trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
26 (G)Many seek the ruler’s [b]favor,
But (H)justice for man comes from the Lord.
27 An (I)unjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is (J)upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 29:25 Lit gives
- Proverbs 29:26 Lit face
Proverbs 29:22-27
New International Version
Proverbs 29:22-27
New International Version
22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.(A)
24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.(D)
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.(J)
Hebrews 13
New American Standard Bible 1995
Hebrews 13
New American Standard Bible 1995
The Changeless Christ
13 Let (A)love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to (B)show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have (C)entertained angels without knowing it. 3 (D)Remember (E)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 (F)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; (G)for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Make sure that your character is (H)free from the love of money, (I)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “(J)I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“(K)The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
7 Remember (L)those who led you, who spoke (M)the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their conduct, (N)imitate their faith. 8 (O)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9 (P)Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to (Q)be strengthened by grace, not by (R)foods, (S)through which those who [b]were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar (T)from which those (U)who serve the [c]tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For (V)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, (W)that He might sanctify the people (X)through His own blood, suffered (Y)outside the gate. 13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, (Z)bearing His reproach. 14 For here (AA)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking (AB)the city which is to come.
God-pleasing Sacrifices
15 (AC)Through Him then, let us continually offer up a (AD)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (AE)the fruit of lips that [d]give thanks to His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and (AF)sharing, for (AG)with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 (AH)Obey your leaders and submit to them, for (AI)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. [e]Let them do this with joy and not [f]with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
18 (AJ)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (AK)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (AL)so that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20 Now (AM)the God of peace, who (AN)brought up from the dead the (AO)great Shepherd of the sheep [g]through (AP)the blood of the (AQ)eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 (AR)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (AS)working in us that (AT)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (AU)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But (AV)I urge you, (AW)brethren, [h]bear with [i]this (AX)word of exhortation, for (AY)I have written to you briefly. 23 [j]Take notice that (AZ)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (BA)all of your leaders and all the [k](BB)saints. Those from (BC)Italy greet you.
25 (BD)Grace be with you all.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:7 Or end of their life
- Hebrews 13:9 Lit walked
- Hebrews 13:10 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 13:15 Lit confess
- Hebrews 13:17 Lit in order that they may do this
- Hebrews 13:17 Lit groaning
- Hebrews 13:20 Lit in
- Hebrews 13:22 Or listen to
- Hebrews 13:22 Lit the
- Hebrews 13:23 Lit Know
- Hebrews 13:24 Or holy ones
Hebrews 13
New International Version
Hebrews 13
New International Version
Concluding Exhortations
13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.(A) 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,(B) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.(C) 3 Continue to remember those in prison(D) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
4 Marriage should be honored by all,(E) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.(F) 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money(G) and be content with what you have,(H) because God has said,
6 So we say with confidence,
7 Remember your leaders,(K) who spoke the word of God(L) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate(M) their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(N)
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(O) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(P) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(Q) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(R) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle(S) have no right to eat.(T)
11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,(U) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.(V) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(W) to make the people holy(X) through his own blood.(Y) 13 Let us, then, go to him(Z) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.(AA) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city,(AB) but we are looking for the city that is to come.(AC)
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice(AD) of praise—the fruit of lips(AE) that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(AF) for with such sacrifices(AG) God is pleased.
17 Have confidence in your leaders(AH) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you(AI) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
18 Pray for us.(AJ) We are sure that we have a clear conscience(AK) and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.(AL)
Benediction and Final Greetings
20 Now may the God of peace,(AM) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(AN) brought back from the dead(AO) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(AP) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(AQ) and may he work in us(AR) what is pleasing to him,(AS) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AT)
22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.(AU)
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy(AV) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders(AW) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy(AX) send you their greetings.
25 Grace be with you all.(AY)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
- Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.