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. 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.” 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.’” 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

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. 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. Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, (K)you man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow! (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!”

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.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:9 Lit take off
  2. 2 Samuel 16:11 Lit my body
  3. 2 Samuel 16:12 Lit the Lord will return
  4. 2 Samuel 16:17 Or kindness
  5. 2 Samuel 16:23 Lit advised

David and Ziba

16 When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba,(A) the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.(B)

The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh(C) those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”(D)

Ziba(E) said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’”

Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth(F) is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

As King David approached Bahurim,(G) a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei(H) son of Gera, and he cursed(I) as he came out. He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned.(J) The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”(K)

Then Abishai(L) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(M) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”(N)

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(O) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”(P)

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,(Q) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.(R) 12 It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery(S) and restore to me his covenant blessing(T) instead of his curse today.(U)

13 So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14 The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted.(V) And there he refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

15 Meanwhile, Absalom(W) and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel(X) was with him. 16 Then Hushai(Y) the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”(Z)

18 Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19 Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”(AA)

20 Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

21 Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.(AB)

23 Now in those days the advice(AC) Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David(AD) and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and [a]lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the (A)food that is my portion,
That I not be (B)full and deny (C)You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be (D)in want and steal,
And (E)profane the name of my God.

10 Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will (F)curse you and you will be found guilty.

11 There is a [b]kind of man who (G)curses his father
And does not bless his mother.
12 There is a [c]kind who is (H)pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13 There is a [d]kind—oh how (I)lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14 There is a [e]kind of man whose (J)teeth are like swords
And his (K)jaw teeth like knives,
To (L)devour the afflicted from the earth
And the needy from among men.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 30:8 Lit words of falsehood
  2. Proverbs 30:11 Or generation
  3. Proverbs 30:12 Or generation
  4. Proverbs 30:13 Or generation
  5. Proverbs 30:14 Or generation

“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.(A)
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown(B) you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’(C)
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.(D)

10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,
    or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 “There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers;(E)
12 those who are pure in their own eyes(F)
    and yet are not cleansed of their filth;(G)
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,(H)
    whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth(I) are swords
    and whose jaws are set with knives(J)
to devour(K) the poor(L) from the earth
    and the needy from among mankind.(M)

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Be Strong

You therefore, my [a](A)son, (B)be strong in the grace that is in (C)Christ Jesus. 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. (I)Suffer hardship with me, as a good (J)soldier of (K)Christ Jesus. 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. Also if anyone (M)competes as an athlete, he [b]does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. (N)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, (O)risen from the dead, (P)descendant of David, (Q)according to my gospel, [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:

For (AD)if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, (AE)we will also reign with Him;
If we [d](AF)deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are faithless, (AG)He remains faithful, for (AH)He cannot deny Himself.

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.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:1 Or child
  2. 2 Timothy 2:5 Lit is not crowned
  3. 2 Timothy 2:9 Lit in which
  4. 2 Timothy 2:12 Lit will deny
  5. 2 Timothy 2:16 Lit they will make further progress in ungodliness
  6. 2 Timothy 2:17 Lit word
  7. 2 Timothy 2:17 Or cancer
  8. 2 Timothy 2:23 Lit fightings
  9. 2 Timothy 2:26 Or by him, to do His will

The Appeal Renewed

You then, my son,(A) be strong(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say(C) in the presence of many witnesses(D) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering,(E) like a good soldier(F) of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown(G) except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(H) Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,(I) descended from David.(J) This is my gospel,(K) for which I am suffering(L) even to the point of being chained(M) like a criminal. But God’s word(N) is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything(O) for the sake of the elect,(P) that they too may obtain the salvation(Q) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(R)

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:(S)

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;(T)
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.(U)
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;(V)
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,(W)
    for he cannot disown himself.

Dealing With False Teachers

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;(X) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.(Y) 16 Avoid godless chatter,(Z) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus(AA) and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,(AB) and they destroy the faith of some.(AC) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(AD) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(AE) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(AF) must turn away from wickedness.”

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.(AG) 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.(AH)

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love(AI) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord(AJ) out of a pure heart.(AK) 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(AL) 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.(AM) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,(AN) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,(AO) who has taken them captive to do his will.