Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

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26 (A)Many seek the ruler’s [a]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:26 Lit. face

16 (A)A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men.

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A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

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14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,
And a bribe [a]behind the back, strong wrath.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 21:14 Under cover, lit. in the bosom

12 (A)The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is (B)like dew on the grass.

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Now Joseph was governor (A)over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and (B)bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.

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23 For (A)the wages of sin is death, but (B)the [a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:23 free gift

24 If I mocked at them, they did not believe it,
And the light of my countenance they did not cast down.
25 I chose the way for them, and sat as chief;
So I dwelt as a king in the army,
As one who comforts mourners.

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19 Then he said to the king, (A)“Do not let my lord [a]impute iniquity to me, or remember what (B)wrong your servant did on the day that my lord the king left Jerusalem, that the king should (C)take it to heart. 20 For I, your servant, know that I have sinned. Therefore here I am, the first to come today of all (D)the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.”

21 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, “Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, (E)because he (F)cursed the Lord’s anointed?”

22 And David said, (G)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should be adversaries to me today? (H)Shall any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?” 23 Therefore (I)the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore to him.

David and Mephibosheth Meet

24 Now (J)Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king. And he had not cared for his feet, nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace. 25 So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, (K)“Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

26 And he answered, “My lord, O king, my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. 27 And (L)he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, (M)but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. 28 For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. (N)Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to [b]cry out anymore to the king?”

29 So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’ ”

30 Then Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

31 And (O)Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went across the Jordan with the king, to escort him across the Jordan. 32 Now Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. And (P)he had provided the king with supplies while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man. 33 And the king said to Barzillai, “Come across with me, and I will provide for you while you are with me in Jerusalem.”

34 But Barzillai said to the king, “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? 35 I am today (Q)eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king? 36 Your servant will go a little way across the Jordan with the king. And why should the king repay me with such a reward? 37 Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant (R)Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what seems good to you.”

38 And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you. Now whatever you request of me, I will do for you.” 39 Then all the people went over the Jordan. And when the king had crossed over, the king (S)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 19:19 charge me with iniquity
  2. 2 Samuel 19:28 complain

11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, (A)they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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15 In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a (A)cloud of the latter rain.

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12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
(A)The rich among the people will seek your favor.

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15 So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went (A)down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph.

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20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will (A)appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”

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