 Chapter 1 of 2 Samuel of the Bible, King James Version Now it came to pass after the death of Saul when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag. It came even to pass on the third day that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head. And so it was when he came to David that he fell to the earth and did obeisance. And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me? And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, And many of the people also are fallen and dead, And Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also. And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, Saul leaned upon his spear, and lo the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him he saw me and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand I pray thee, Upon me, and slay me, For anguish has come upon me, Because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him and slew him, Because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen, And I took the crown that was upon his head, And the bracelet that was on his arm, And have brought them hither unto my Lord. Then David took hold on his clothes and rent them, And likewise all the men that were with him, And they mourned and wept and fasted until even, For Saul and for Jonathan his son, And for the people of the Lord, And for the house of Israel, Because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man that told him, Who hence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, An Amalekite. And David said unto him, How was thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand To destroy the Lord's anointed? And David called one of the young men and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head, For thy mouth hath testified against thee, Saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed. And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son. Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow. Behold it is written in the Book of Jasher. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places. How are the mighty fallen? Let not engath, Publish it not in the streets of Escalon, Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew, Neither let there be rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings. For there the shield of the mighty Is wildly cast away, The shield of Saul, As though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, From the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided, They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, Weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet, With other delights, Who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle? O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant has thou been unto me, Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished? CHAPTER II And it came to pass after this, That David inquired of the Lord, Meaning, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up! And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, unto Hebron. So David went up thither, And his two wives also, Ahinouim the Jesrealitus, And Abigail, Navel's wife, the Carmelite. And his men that were with him Did David bring up every man with his household, And they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, And there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabish Gilead were they that buried Saul. And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabish Gilead, And said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, That ye have showed this kindness unto your Lord, Even unto Saul, And have buried him. And now the Lord show kindness and truth unto you. And I also will recite you this kindness, Because ye have done this thing. Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, And be ye valiant, For your master Saul is dead, And also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them. But Abner the son of Neur, Captain of Saul's host, Took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, And brought him over to Mahaneim, And made him king over Gilead, And over the Asharites, and over Jezreel, And over Ephraim, And over Benjamin, and over all Israel. Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, And reigned two years, But the house of Judah followed David. And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah Was seven years and six months. And Abner the son of Neur, And the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, Went out from Mahaneim to Gibeon. And Joab, the son of Zeruiah, And the servants of David, Went out and met together by the pool of Gibeon, And they sat down, The one on the one side of the pool, And the other on the other side of the pool. And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise. Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, Which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, And twelve of the servants of David, And they caught every one his fellow by the head, And thrust his sword in his fellow's side, So they fell down together. Wherefore, that place was called Helcath Hazarum, Which is in Gibeon. When there was a very sore battle that day, And Abner was beaten, And the men of Israel, Before the servants of David. And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab and Abishai and Asahel, And Asahel was as light a foot as a wild row, And Asahel pursued after Abner, And in going he turned not to the right hand, Nor to the left from following Abner. And Abner looked behind him and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am. And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand, Or to thy left, And lay thee hold on one of the young men, And take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me! Wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother? Howbeit he refused to turn aside, Wherefore Abner, with the hind end of the spear, Smote him under the fifth rib, That the spear came out behind him, And he fell down there, And died in the same place, And it came to pass, That as many as came to the place Where Asahel fell down and died stood still. Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner, And the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Amma, That lieth before Gaia, By the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner became one troop, And stood on the top of an hill. Then Abner called to Joab and said, Shall the sword devour forever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, if thou bid the people return From following their brethren? And Joab said, As God liveth, Unless thou had spoken, Surely then in the morning The people had gone up every one From following his brother. So Joab blew a trumpet, And all the people stood still, And pursued after Israel no more, Neither fought they any more. And Abner and his men walked all that night Through the plain, and passed over Jordan, And went through all Bithron, And they came to Mahanaim. And Joab returned from following Abner, And when he had gathered all the people together, There lacked of David's servants, Nineteen men, and Asahel. But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin and of Abner's men, So that three hundred and three score men died. And they took up Asahel and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, Which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, And they came to Hebron at break of day. Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David, But David waxed stronger and stronger, And the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker. And unto David was sons born in Hebron, And his first born was Amnon, of Ahinuim the Jesrealitus, And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Camelite, And the third, Absalon, the son of Marker, The daughter of Thalmay, king of Geshe, And the fourth, Adonijah, the son of Haggath, And the fifth, Shephetiah, the son of Abital, And the sixth, Ithrium, by Agler David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron. And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpa, the daughter of Aya, And Ishpasheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? Then was Abner very wroth, for the words of Ishpasheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, And have not delivered thee into the hand of David, That thou chargest me to-day with a fault concerning this woman? So do God to Abner, and more also, except as the Lord had sworn to David, Even so I do to him, to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, And to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, From Dan even to Bersheba. And he could not answer Abner a word again because he feared him. And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? Saying also, Make thy league with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, To bring about all Israel unto thee. And he said, Well, I will make a league with thee, But one thing I require of thee, that is, thou shalt not see my face, Except thou first bring Michael Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. And David sent messengers to Isbasheth, Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife, Michael, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Isbasheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Faltel, the son of Leish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahram. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you. Now then do it. For the Lord had spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David, I will save my people Israel, out of the hand of the Philistines, And out of the hand of all their enemies. And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin. And Abner went also to speak in the ears of David and Hebron, All that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin. So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast. And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, And will gather all Israel unto my Lord the king, That they may make a league with thee, And that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away, and he went in peace. And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, And brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David and Hebron, For he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace. When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, They told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Neur came to the king, And he had sent him away, and he is gone in peace. Then Joab came to the king, and said, What has thou done? Behold, Abner came unto thee. Why is it that thou has sent him away, and he is quite gone? Thou knowest, Abner, the son of Neur, That he came to deceive thee, And to know thy going out and thy coming in, And to know all that thou doest. And when Joab was come out from David, He sent messengers after Abner, Which brought him again from the well of Sira. But David knew it not. And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, And smote him there under the fifth rib that he died, For the blood of Assel, his brother. And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord, Forever from the blood of Abner, the son of Neur. Let it rest on the head of Joab, And on all his father's house, And let there not fail from the house of Joab, One that hath an issue, or that is a leper, Or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, Or that lacketh bread. So Joab and Abashai his brother slew Abner, Because he had slain their brother Assel at Givian in the battle. And David said to Joab, And to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes and gird you with sackcloth, And mourn before Abner. And King David himself followed the beard. And they buried Abner in Hebron, And the king lifted up his voice And wept at the grave of Abner, And all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner and said, Died Abner is a fool dyeth! Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters, As a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him. And when all the people came to cause David To eat meat while it was yet day, David swear, saying, So do God to me, and more also, If I taste bread, or else till the sun be down. And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, As whatsoever the king did pleased all the people. For all the people and all Israel understood that day That it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Neur. And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince And a great man fallen this day in Israel. And I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zaria, be too hard for me. The law shall reward the doer of evil According to his wickedness. End of chapter three. Chapter four of second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version. Second Samuel, chapter four. And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled. And Saul's son had two men that were captains of the bands. The name of the one was Banner, and the name of the other Rehab. The sons of Rimon Abirothite, of the children of Benjamin, for Biroth also was reckoned to Benjamin. And Abirothites fled to Gittain, and were sojourners there until this day. And Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass as she made haste to flee that he fell and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. And the sons of Rimon Abirothite, Rehab and Banner, went and came about the heat of the day to the house of Isbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat, and they smote him under the fifth rib. And Rehab and Banner, his brother, escaped. For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bed-chamber, and they smote him and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and get them away through the plain all night. And they brought the head of Isbosheth unto David, to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Isbosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, which sought thy life. And the Lord hath avenged my Lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed. And David answered Rehab and Banner, his brother, the sons of Rimon Abirothite, and said unto them, As the Lord liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity, when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings. How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth? And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hang them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Isbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abno in Hebron. End of chapter four. Chapter five of Second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version. Second Samuel. Chapter five. Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and Spake saying, "'Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.' "'Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, "'thou wasst he that led us out and brought us in Israel. "'And the Lord said to thee, "'thou shalt feed my people Israel, "'and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.' So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was 30 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 40 years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 30 and three years over all Israel and Judah. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, which Spake unto David saying, "'Except thou take away the blind and the lame, "'thou shalt not come in hither.' Thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is the city of David. And David said on that day, whosoever getteth up to the gutter and smited the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, the blind and the lame shall not come into the house. So David dwelt in the fort and called it the city of David, and David built roundabout from millow and inward. And David went on and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him. And Hiram, king of Tyre, sent messengers to David and cedar trees and carpenters and masons, and they built David and house. And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake. And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem. Shamua and Shobab and Nathan and Solomon, Ibar also and Elishua, and Nifig and Jaffaia, and Alishama and Aliada and Alephalot. But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David. And David heard of it and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Refaim. And David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go up to the Philistines? What thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baalperism, and David smote them there and said, the Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperism. And there they left their images and David and his men burned them. And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Refaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, thou shalt not go up, but fetch a compass behind them and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestow thyself, for then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so as the Lord had commanded him and smote the Philistines from Giba until thou come to Gaza. End of chapter five. Chapter six of Second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version. Second Samuel, chapter six. Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000. And David arose and went with all the people that were with him from Baal of Judah to bring up from Thence the Ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of Hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the Ark of God upon a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah. And Uzah and Ahayo, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the Ark of God. And Ahayo went before the Ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of firwood, even on harps and on sultries and on timbrels and on cornets and on cymbals. And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzah put forth his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzah. And God smote him there for his error and there he died by the Ark of God. And David was displeased because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzah and he called the name of the place Perez-Uza to this day. And David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, how shall the Ark of the Lord come to me? So David would not remove the Ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David. But David carried it aside into the house of Abedidam, the Gittite. And the Ark of the Lord continued in the house of Abedidam, the Gittite, three months. And the Lord blessed Abedidam and all his household. And it was told King David saying, the Lord had blessed the house of Abedidam and all that pertaineth unto him because of the Ark of God. So David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Abedidam into the city of David with gladness. And it was so that when they that bear the Ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the Lord with all his might and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the Ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michael, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord. And she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the Ark of the Lord and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to everyone a cake of bread and a good piece of flesh and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household and Michael, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, how glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself. And David said unto Michael, it was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father and before all his house to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore will I play before the Lord, and I will yet be more vile than thus and will be based in my own sight, and of the maidservants which thou hath spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor. Therefore Michael, the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death. End of chapter six. Chapter seven of second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan, the Bible, King James Version. Second Samuel. Chapter seven. And it came to pass when the king sat in his house and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, see now, I dwell in an house of cedar, for the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, go, do all that is in thine heart, for the Lord is with thee. And it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan saying, go and tell my servant David, thus saith the Lord, shout thou build me an house for me to dwell in, whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, why build ye not me an house of cedar? Now therefore, so shout thou say unto my servant David, thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheep coat, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people over Israel. And I was with thee withersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth. Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more, neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more as before time. And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies, also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. But by my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee. Thy throne shall be established forever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David. Then went King David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God, for thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord God, and what can David say more unto thee? For thou, Lord God, knowest thy servant, for thy word's sake and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things to make thy servant know them. Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God, for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee according to all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land before thy people, which thou redeemest to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods, for thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever, and thou, Lord, art become their God. And now, O Lord God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house, establish it for ever and do as thou hast said, and let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, the Lord of hosts is the God over Israel, and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. For thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel has revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house, therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant that it may continue for ever before thee. For thou, O Lord God, has spoken it, and with thy blessing, let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. End of chapter seven. Chapter eight of Second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan. The Bible, King James Version. Second Samuel. Chapter eight. And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines and subdued them, and David took methigamma out of the hand of the Philistines, and he smote Moab and measured them with a line casting them down to the ground. Even with two lines measured he to put to death and with one full line to keep alive, and so the Moabites became David's servants and brought gifts. David smote also had a diesel, the son of Rehob, King of Zoba, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates, and David took from him a thousand chariots and seven hundred horsemen and twenty thousand footmen, and David hoffed all the chariot horses but reserved of them for a hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to Saka Hadidiza, King of Zoba, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought gifts, and the Lord preserved David with his whoever he went, and David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadidiza and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Beta and from Berothai, cities of Hadidiza, King David took exceeding much brass. When Toye, King of Hamath, heard that David had smitten all the hosts of Hadidiza, then Toye sent Joram his son unto King David to salute him and to bless him because he had fought against Hadidiza and smitten him, for Hadidiza had wars with Toye. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold and vessels of brass, which also King David did dedicate unto the Lord with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued, of Syria and of Moab and of the children of Ammon and of the Philistines and of Amalek and of the spoil of Hadidiza, son of Rehob, King of Zoba. And David get him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, being 18,000 men. And he put garrisons in Edom, throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants, and the Lord preserved David with thesoever he went, and David reigned over all Israel, and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people. And Joab, the son of Zaria, was over the host, and Jehoshaphat, the son of Aholud, was recorder, and Zaroq, the son of Ahutub and Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, were the priests. And Suriah was the scribe, and Baniah, the son of Jehoiada, was over both the charathites and the pelithites, and David's sons were chief rulers. End of chapter eight. Chapter nine of Second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Joy Chan, the Bible. King James Version, Second Samuel, chapter nine. And David said, is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Zeba, and when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, art thou Zeba? And he said, thy servant is he. And the king said, is there not yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Zeba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son which is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, where is he? And Zeba said unto the king, behold, he is in the house of Machia, the son of Amiel in Lodba. Then King David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machia, the son of Amiel from Lodba. Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was common to David, he fell on his face and did reverence, and David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, behold, thy servant. And David said unto him, fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan, thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul, thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself and said, what is thy servant that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called to Zeba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertain to Saul and to all his house. Thou, therefore, and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him. Thou shalt bring in the fruit that thy master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, thy master's son, shall eat bread always at my table. Now Zeba had 15 sons and 20 servants. Then said Zeba unto the king, according to all that my lord the king have commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all that dwelt in the house of Zeba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he did eat continually at the king's table and was lame on both his feet. End of chapter nine. Chapter 10 of Second Samuel of the Bible, King James Version. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Joy Chan, the Bible, King James Version. Second Samuel, chapter 10. And it came to pass after this that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hainan, his son, reigned in his stead. Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hainan, the son of Nehash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father, and David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon. And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hainan, their lord, thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? Hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee to search the city and to spy it out and to overthrow it? Wherefore Hainan took David's servants and shaved off the one half of their beards and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return. And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethlehob and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of King Marka, a thousand men, and of Ishtob, twelve thousand men. And when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the hosts of the mighty men. And the children of Ammon came out and put the battle in array at the entering inn of the gate, and the Syrians of Zoba and of Rehob and Ishtob and Marka were by themselves in the field. When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians. And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai, his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon. And he said, if the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me, but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God. And the Lord do that which seemeth him good. And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon and came to Jerusalem. And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together and Hadarizah sent and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river, and they came to Helam and Shobak, the captain of the host of Hadarizah, went before them. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and passed over Jordan and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in a ray against David and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel and David slew the men of 700 chariots of the Syrians and 40,000 horsemen and Shobak, the captain of their host who died there. And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarizah saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more. End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 11 And it came to pass after the year was expired at the time when kings go forth to battle that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Raba. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an evening tide that David arose from off his bed and walked upon the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman and one said, It's not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Iliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. And David sent messengers and took her and she came in unto him and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived and sent and told David and said, I am with child. And David sent to Joab saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David. And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did and how the people did and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house and there followed him a mess of meat from the king. But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord and went not down to his house. And when they had told David saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Came as thou not from thy journey? Why then did thou not go down unto thine house? And Uriah said unto David, The ark and Israel and Judah abide in tents and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing. And David said to Uriah, Terry here today also and tomorrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day and the morrow. And when David had called him he did eat and drink before him and he made him drunk and that even he went out to lie in his bed with the servants of his lord but went not down to his house. And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle and retire ye from him that he may be smitten and die. And it came to pass when Joab observed the city that he aside Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were and the men of the city went out and fought with Joab and there fell some of the people of the servants of David and Uriah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war and charged the messenger saying when thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king and if so be that the king's wrath arise and he say unto thee wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall. Timilec the son of Derubesheth did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall that he died in Thebes. Why were ye nigh the wall? Then say thou, thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. So the messenger went and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for and the messenger said unto David surely the men prevailed against us and came out unto us into the field and we were upon them unto the entering of the gate and the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants and some of the king's servants be dead and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also. Then David said unto the messenger thus shout thou say unto Joab let not this thing displease thee for the sword devoureth one as well as another make thy battle more strong against the city and overthrow it and encourage thou him and when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead she mourned for her husband and when the morning was past David sent and fetched her to his house and she became his wife and bear him a son but the thing that David had done displeased the Lord End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 12 And the Lord sent Nathan unto David and he came unto him and said unto him there were two men in one city the one rich and the other poor the rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds the rich man had nothing save one little Ulam which he had bought and nourished up and it grew up together with him and with his children it did eat of his own meat and drank of his own cup and lay in his bosom and was unto him as a daughter and they came a traveller unto the rich man and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wafering man and dressed it for the man that was come to him and David's anger was greatly kindled against the man and he said to Nathan as the Lord liveth the man that had done this thing shall surely die and he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity and Nathan said to David thou art the man thus sayeth the Lord God of Israel I anointed thee king over Israel and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul and I gave thee thy master's house and thy master's wives into thy bosom and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah and if that had been too little I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord to do evil in his sight thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and has slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house because thou hast despised me and has taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife thus sayeth the Lord behold I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house thou will take thy wives before thine eyes and give them unto thy neighbour and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this son for thou didst it secretly but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the son and David said unto Nathan I have sinned against the Lord and Nathan said unto David the Lord also hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die habiat because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die and Nathan departed unto his house and the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bay unto David and it was very sick David therefore besought God for the child and David fasted and went in and lay all night upon the earth and the elders of his house arose and went to him to raise him up from the earth but he would not neither did he eat bread with them and it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died and the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead for they said behold, while the child was yet alive we spake unto him and he would not harken unto our voice how will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead but when David saw that his servants whispered David perceived that the child was dead therefore David said unto his servants is the child dead and they said then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel and came into the house of the Lord and worshiped then he came to his own house and when he required they set bread before him and he did eat then said his servants unto him what thing is this that thou hast done thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive but when the child was dead thou didst rise and eat bread and he said while the child was yet alive I fasted and wept for I said who can tell whether God will be gracious to me that the child may live but now he is dead wherefore should I fast can I bring him back again I shall go to him but he shall not return to me and David comforted Bathsheba his wife and went in unto her and lay with her and she bears son and he called his name Solomon and the Lord loved him and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet and he called his name Jedediah because of the Lord and Joab fought against Raba of the children of Ammon and took the royal city and Joab sent messengers to David and said I have fought against Raba and have taken the city of waters now therefore gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it lest I take the city by my name and David gathered all the people together and went to Raba and fought against it and took it and he took their king's crown from off his head the Wade Whirl was a talent of gold with the precious stones and it was set on David's head and he brought forth the swirl of the city in great abundance and he brought forth the people that were therein and put them under sores and under harrows of iron and under axes of iron through the brick kiln and thirsted he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon so David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 13 And it came to pass after this that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister whose name was Tamar and Amnon the son of David loved her and Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick for his sister Tamar for she was a virgin and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her but Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab and Amnon said to him why are thou being the king's son lean from day to day what thou not tell me and Amnon said unto him I love Tamar my brother Absalom's sister and Jonadab said unto him lay thee down on thy bed and make thyself sick and when thy father cometh to see thee say unto him I pray thee let my sister Tamar come and give me me let my sister Tamar come and give me meat and dress the meat in my sight that I may see it and eat it at her hand so Amnon lay down and made himself sick and when the king was come to see him Amnon said unto the king I pray thee let Tamar my sister come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight that I may eat at her hand then David sent home to Tamar saying go now to thy brother Amnon's house and dress him meat so Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house and he was laid down and she took flour and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and did bake the cakes and she took a pan and poured them out before him but he refused to eat and Amnon said have out all men from me and they went out every man from him and Amnon said unto Tamar bring the meat into the chamber that I may eat out of thy hand and Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother and when she had brought them unto him to eat he took hold of her and said unto her come lie with me my sister and she answered him nay my brother do not force me for no such thing ought to be done in Israel do not thou this folly and I wither shall I cause my shame to go and as for thee thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel now therefore I pray thee seek unto the king for he will not withhold me from thee howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice but being stronger than she forced her and lay with her then Amnon hated her exceedingly so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her and Amnon said unto her arise be gone and she said unto him there is no cause this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me but he would not hearken unto her then he called his servant that ministered unto him and said put now this woman out from me and bolt the door after her and she had a garment of diverse colours upon her for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her and Tema put ashes on her head and rent her garment of diverse colours that was on her and laid her hand on her head and went on crying and Absalom her brother said unto her hath Amnon thy brother been with thee but hold now thy peace my sister he is thy brother regard not this thing so Tema remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house but when King David heard of all these things he was very wroth and Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon for he was neither good nor bad for Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tema and it came to pass after two full years that Absalom had sheep shears in Baal Hazel which is beside Ephraim and Absalom invited all the king's sons and Absalom came to the king and said behold now thy servant hath sheep shears let the king I beseech thee and his servants go with thy servant and the king said to Absalom name my son let us not all now go let's we be chargeable unto thee and he pressed him how be it he would not go but blessed him then said Absalom if not I pray thee let my brother Amnon go with us and the king said unto him why should he go with thee but Absalom pressed him that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him and it came to pass while they were in the way that tidings came to David saying Amnon, be brave and be brave and the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded then all the king's son arose and every man get him up upon his mule and fled and it came to pass while they were in the way that tidings came to David saying Amnon, be brave and be brave and the servants of Absalom when tidings came to David saying Absalom hath slain all the king's sons and there is not one of them left then the king arose and tear his garments and lay on the earth and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent and Jonah dabb, the son of Shimea David's brother answered and said let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons for Amnon only is dead for by the appointment of Absalom and from the day that he forced his sister Tema now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart to think that all the king's sons are dead for Amnon only is dead but Absalom fled and the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked and behold they came much people by the way of the hillside behind him and Jonah dabb said unto the king behold the king's sons come as thy servant said so it is and it came to pass as soon as he had made an end of speaking that behold the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept and the king also and all his servants wept very sore but Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammahood king of Geshe and David mourned for his son every day so Absalom fled and went to Geshe and was there three years and the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom for he was comforted concerning Amnon seeing he was dead End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan the Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 14 Now Joab, the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom and Joab sent to Tekoa and fetched thence a wise woman and said unto her I pray thee feign thyself to be a mourner and put on now mourning apparel and anoint not thyself with oil but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead and come to the king and speak on this manner unto him Joab put the words in her mouth and when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance and said help oh king and the king said unto her what aleeth thee and she answered I am indeed a widow woman and my husband is dead and thy handmaid had two sons and they two strove together in the field and there was none to part them and behold the whole family is risen against thine handmaid and they said deliver him that smote his brother that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew and we will destroy the air also and so they shall quench my call which is left and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth and the king said unto the woman go to thine house and I will give charge concerning thee and the woman of Tekoa said unto the king my lord oh king the iniquity beyond me and on my father's house and the king and his throne be guiltless and the king said whoever sayeth ought unto thee bring him to me and he shall not touch thee anymore then said she I pray thee let the king remember the lord thy god that thou wouldst not suffer the revenges of blood to destroy any more lest they destroy my son and he said as the lord liveth there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth then the woman said let thine handmaid I pray thee speak one word unto my lord the king and he said say on and the woman said wherefore then has thou thought such a thing against the people of god for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished for we must need die and ours water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again neither doth god respect any person yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king it is because the people have made me afraid and thy handmaid said I will now speak unto the king it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid for the king will hear the river his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of god then thine handmaid said the word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable for as an angel of god so is my lord the king to discern good and bad therefore the lord thy god will be with thee then the king answered and said unto the woman hide not from me I pray thee the thing that I shall ask thee and the woman said let my lord the king now speak and the king said is not the hand of joe ab with thee in all this and the woman answered and said as thy soul liveth my lord the king none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken for thy servant joe ab he bade me and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid to fetch about this form of speech and my lord is wise according to the wisdom of an angel of god to know all things that are in the earth and the king said unto joe ab behold now I have done this thing go therefore bring the young man Absalom again and joe ab fell to the ground on his face and bowed himself and thanked the king and joe ab said today thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight my lord oh king in that the king hath fulfilled all of his servant so joe ab arose and went to Geshe and brought Absalom to Jerusalem and the king said let him turn to his own house and let him not see my face so Absalom returned to his own house and saw not the king's face but in all Israel there was none to be such praised as Absalom for his beauty from the soul of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him and when he pulled his head for it was at every year's end that he pulled it because the hair was heavy on him therefore he pulled it he weighed the hair of his head at 200 shekels after the king's weight and unto Absalom there were born three sons and one daughter whose name was Tema she was a woman of a fair countenance so Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem and saw not the king's face therefore Absalom sent for Joab to have sent him to the king but he would not come to him and when he sent again the second time he would not come to him therefore he said unto his servants see Joab's field is near mine and he hath barley there go and set it on fire and Absalom's servants set the field on fire then Joab arose and came to Absalom unto his house and said unto him wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire and Absalom answered Joab behold I sent unto thee saying come hither that I may send thee to the king to say wherefore am I come from Geshe it had been good for me to have been there still now therefore let me see the king's face and if there be any iniquity in me let him kill me so Joab came to the king and told him and when he had called for Absalom he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king and the king kissed Absalom End of Chapter 14 Chapter 15 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 15 And it came to pass after this that Absalom prepared here chariots and horses and fifty men to run before him and Absalom rose up early and stood beside the way of the gate and it was so that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment then Absalom called unto him and said of what city art thou and he said thy servant is one of the tribes of Israel and Absalom said unto him see thy matters are good and right but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee Absalom said moreover oh that I were made judge in the land that every man which had any suit or cause might come unto me and I would do him justice and it was so that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him and on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel and it came to pass after 40 years that Absalom said unto the king I pray thee let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed unto the Lord in Hebron for thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Gesher in Syria saying if the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem then I will serve the Lord and the king said unto him go in peace so he arose and went to Hebron Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel saying as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet then ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron and with Absalom went 200 men out of Jerusalem that were called and they went in their simplicity and they knew not anything and Absalom sent for Ahithopel the Gildonite David's counselor from his city even from Gailo while he offered sacrifices and the conspiracy was strong for the people increased continually with Absalom and there came a messenger to David saying the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom and David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem arise and let us flee for we shall not else escape from Absalom make speed to depart lest ye overtake us suddenly and bring evil upon us and smite the city with the edge of the sword and the king's servants said unto the king behold thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint and the king went forth and all his household after him and the king left ten women which were concubines to keep the house and the king went forth and all the people after him and tarried in a place that was far off and all his servants passed on beside him and all the charathites and all the Gittites six hundred men which came after him from Gath passed on before the king then said the king to Itai the Gittite wherefore goest thou also with us return to thy place and abide with the king for thou art a stranger and also an exile whereas thou cameest but yesterday should I this day make thee go up and down with us seeing I go wither I may return thou and take back thy brethren mercy and truth be with thee and Itai answered the king and said as the lord liveth and as my lord the king liveth surely in what place my lord the king shall be whether in death or life even there also will thy servant be and David said to Itai go and pass over and Itai the Gittite passed over and all his men and all the little ones that were with him and the country wept with a loud voice and all the people passed over the king also passed over the Brook Kidron and all the people passed over toward the way of the wilderness and lo Zadok also and all the Levites were with him bearing the Ark of the Covenant of God and they set down the Ark of God and Abietha went up until all the people had done passing out of the city and the king said unto Zadok carry back the Ark of God into the city if I shall find favor in the eyes of the lord he will bring me again and show me both It and his habitation but if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here I am let him do to me a seemeth good unto him the king said also unto Zadok the priest art not thou a seer return into the city in peace and your two sons with you Ahimaz thy son of Abietha see I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness until there come word from you to certify me Zadok therefore and Abietha carried the Ark of God again to Jerusalem and they tarried there and David went up by the ascent of Mount Olivet and wept as he went up and had his head covered and he went barefoot and all the people that was with him covered every man his head and they went up weeping as they went up and one told David saying Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom and David said O Lord I pray thee turn the council of Ahithophel into foolishness and it came to pass that when David was come to the top of the Mount where he worshipped God behold Hushai the archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head unto whom David said if thou passest on with me then thou shalt be a burden unto me but if thou return to the city and say unto Absalom I will be thy servant O King as I have been thy father's servant hitherto so will I now also be thy servant then mayest thou for me defeat the council of Ahithophel and hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abietha the priests therefore it shall be that what things are over thou shalt hear out of the king's house thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abietha the priests behold they have there with them their two sons Ahemars Zadok's son and Jonathan Abietha's son and by them you shall send unto me every thing that you can hear so Hushai David's friend came into the city and Absalom came into Jerusalem End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information on to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan the Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 16 and when David was a little past the top of the hill behold Zeba the son of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of asses saddled and upon them two hundred loaves of bread and a hundred bunches of raisins and a hundred of summer fruits and a bottle of wine and the king said unto Zeba what meanness thou by these and Zeba said the asses be for the king's household to ride on and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat and the wine that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink and the king said and where's thy master's son and Zeba said unto the king behold he abideth at Jerusalem for he said today shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father then said the king to Zeba behold thine are all that pertain unto Mephibosheth and Zeba said I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight my lord oh king and when King David came to Bahram behold thence came out a man of the family whose name was Shimei the son of Jira he went forth and cursed still as he came and he cast stones at David and at all the servants of King David and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left and thus said Shimei when he cursed come out come out thou bloody man and thou man of Belial the lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul in whose stead thou hast reigned and the lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son and behold thou art taken in thy mischief because thou art a bloody man then said Abishai the son of Zariah unto the king why should this dead dog curse my lord the king let me go over I pray thee and take off his head and the king said what have I to do with you ye sons of Zariah so let him curse because the lord hath said unto him curse David who shall then say wherefore hast thou done so and David said to Abishai and to all his servants behold my son which came forth of my bowels seeketh my life how much more now made this Benjamin do let him alone and let him curse for the lord hath bid in him and it may be that the lord will look on my inflection and that the lord will be quite me good for his cursing this day and as David and his men went by the way Shime went along on the hillside over against him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and cast dust and the king and all the people that were with him came weary and refreshed themselves there and Absalom and all the people of the men of Israel came to Jerusalem and a hithafel with him and it came to pass when Hushai the archite David's friend said unto Absalom that Hushai said unto Absalom God save the king God save the king and Absalom said to Hushai is this thy kindness to thy friend why wentest thou not with thy friend and Hushai said unto Absalom nay but whom the lord and his people and all the men of Israel choose his will I be and with him will I abide and again whom should I serve not serve in the presence of his son as I have served in thy father's presence so will I be in thy presence then said Absalom to a hithafel give counsel among you what we shall do and a hithafel said unto Absalom go in unto thy father's concubines which he had left to keep the house and all Israel shall hear that thou art a board of thy father then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong so they spread Absalom attend upon the top of the house and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel and the counsel of a hithafel which he counseled in those days was as if a man had inquired at the Oracle of God so was all the counsel of a hithafel both with David and with Absalom End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version LibriVox Recording All LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information on to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 17 Moreover, a hithafel said unto Absalom let me now choose out twelve thousand men and I will arise and pursue after David this night and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed and will make him afraid and all the people that are with him shall flee and I will smite the king only and I will bring back all the people unto thee the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned so all the people shall be in peace and the saying pleased Absalom well and all the elders of Israel Then said Absalom call now Hushai the Archite also and let us hear likewise what he saith and when Hushai was come to Absalom Absalom spake unto him saying a hithafel hath spoken after this manner shall we do after his saying if not speak thou and Hushai said unto Absalom the counsel that a hithafel hath given is not good at this time for, said Hushai thou knowest thy father and his men that they be mighty men and they be shaped in their minds as a bear robbed of her wealth in the field and thy father is a man of war and will not lodge with the people behold he is hid now in some pit or in some other place and it will come to pass when some of them be overthrown at the first that whosoever heareth it will say there is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom and he also that his valiant whose heart is as the heart of a lion shall utterly melt for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man and they which be with him are valiant men therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee from Dan even to Be'er Sheba as the sand that is by the sea for multitude and that thou go to battle in thine own person so shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground and of him and of all the men that are with him there and left so much as one moreover if he be gotten into a city then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city and we will draw it into the river until there be not one small stone found there and Absalom and all the men of Israel said the counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Hithophel for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Hithophel to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abethur the priest Thas and Thas did a Hithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel and Thas and Thas have eye-counseled now therefore send quickly and tell David saying lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness but speedily pass over lest the king be swallowed up and all the people that are with him now Jonathan and Ahimaz stayed by Enrogol for they might not be seen to come into the city and a wench went and told them and they went and told King David nevertheless a lad saw them and told Absalom but they went both of them away quickly and came to a man's house in Bahurim which had a well in his court wither they went down and the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth and spread ground corn thereon and the thing was not known and when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house they said where is Ahimaz and Jonathan and the woman said unto them they be gone over the brook of water and when they had sought and could not find them they returned to Jerusalem and it came to pass after they were departed that they came up out of the well and went and told King David and said unto David arise and pass quickly over the water for thus hath Ahithophel counseled against you then David arose and all the people that were with him and they passed over Jordan by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan and when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed he saddled his ass and arose and got him home to his house, to his city and put his household in order and hanged himself and died and was buried in the sepulchre of his father then David came to Mahaneim and passed over Jordan he and all the men of Israel with him and Absalom made Amasah captain of the host instead of Joab which Amasah was a man's son whose name was Ithra and Israelite that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nehash sister to Zariah Joab's mother so Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead and it came to pass when David was come to Mahaneim that show be the son of Nehash of Raba of the children of Ammon and Makir the son of Amiel of Lodba and Bazalai the Galeadite of Rosalem brought beds and basins and earthen vessels and wheat and barley and flour and parched corn and beans and lentils and parched pulse and honey and butter and sheep and cheese of kind for David and for the people that were with him to eat for they said the people is hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness Chapter 18 of 2 Samuel of the Bible King James Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan the Bible King James Version 2 Samuel Chapter 18 and David numbered the people that were with him and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them and David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zariah Joab's brother and a third part under the hand of Itai the Gittite and the king said unto the people I will surely go forth with you myself also but the people answered thou shalt not go forth for if we flee away they will not care for us and if half of us die will they care for us but now thou art worth ten thousand of us therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city and the king said unto them what seemeth you best I will do and the king stood by the gate side and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands and the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Itai saying deal gently for my sake with the young man and all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom so the people went out into the field against Israel and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men for the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured and Absalom met the servants of David and Absalom rode upon a mule and the mule went under the thick bows of a great oak and his head caught hold of the oak and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth and the mule that was under him went away and a certain man saw it and told Joab and said behold I saw Absalom hanged in an oak and Joab said unto the man that told him and behold thou sawest him mightest thou not smite him there to the ground and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver and a girdle and the man said unto Joab though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in my hand yet would I not put forth my hand against the king's son for in our hearing the king charged thee and Avesha and Itai saying beware that none touch the young man Absalom otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against my own life for there is no matter hid from the king and thou thyself wouldst have set thyself against me then said Joab I may not tarry thus with thee and he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak and ten young men that bear Joab's armor compassed about and smote Absalom and slew him and Joab blew the trumpet and the people returned from pursuing after Israel for Joab held back the people and they took Absalom and cast him into a great pit in the wood and laid a very great heap of stones upon him and all Israel fled every one to his tent now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar which is in the king's dale for he said I have no son to keep my name in remembrance and he called the pillar after his own name and it is called unto this day Absalom's place then said Ahimas the son of Zadok let me now run and bear the king tidings how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies and Joab said unto him thou shalt not bear tidings this day but thou shalt bear tidings another day but this day thou shalt bear no tidings because the king's son is dead then said Joab to Kushi go tell the king what thou has seen and Kushi bowed himself unto Joab and ran then said Ahimas the son of Zadok yet again to Joab but howsoever let me I pray thee also run after Kushi and Joab said wherefore wilt thou run my son seeing that thou has no tidings ready but howsoever said he let me run and he said unto him run then Ahimas ran by the way of the plane and over ran Kushi and David sat between the two gates and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall and lifted up his eyes and looked and behold a man running alone and the watchman cried and told the king and the king said if he be alone there is tidings in his mouth and he came at pace and drew near and the watchman saw another man running and the watchman called unto the porter and said behold another man running alone and the king said he also bring the tidings and the watchman said me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimas the son of Zadok and the king said he is a good man and cometh with good tidings and Ahimas called and said unto the king all is well and he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king and said blessed be the lord thy god which hath delivered up the men that lifted my lord the king and the king said is the young man Absalom safe and Ahimas answered when Joab sent the king's servant and me thy servant I saw a great tumult but I knew not what it was and the king said unto him turn aside and stand here and he turned aside and stood still and behold Kushi came and Kushi said tidings my lord the king for the lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee and the king said unto Kushi is the young man Absalom safe and Kushi answered the enemies of my lord the king and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt be as that young man is and the king was much moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept and as he went thus he said oh my son Absalom my son my son Absalom would God I had died for thee oh Absalom my son my son End of Chapter 18 Chapter 19 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Chapter 19 And it was told Joab behold the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom and the victory that day was turned into morning unto all the people for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son and the people get them by stealth that day into the city as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle but the king covered his face and the king cried with a loud voice oh my son Absalom oh Absalom my son my son and Joab came into the house to the king and said Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants which this day have saved thy life and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters and the lives of thy wives and the lives of thy concubines in that thou lovest thine enemies and hateest thy friends for thou hast declared this day that thou wasst no servants for this day I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all we had died this day then it had pleased thee well now therefore arise go forth and speak comfortably unto thy servants for I swear by the Lord if thou go not forth they will not tarry one with thee this night and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now then the king arose and sat in the gate saying behold the king doth sit in the gate and all the people came before the king for Israel had fled every man to his tent and all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel saying the king saved us out of the hand of our enemies and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom and Absalom whom we anointed over us is dead in battle now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back and king David sent to Zadok and to Abbaitha the priest saying speak unto the elders of Judah saying why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king even to his house ye are my brethren ye are my bones and my flesh wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king and say ye to Amasa art thou not of my bone and of my flesh God do so to me and more also if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab and he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah even as the heart of one man so that they sent this word unto the king return thou and all thy servants so the king returned and came to Jordan and Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king to conduct the king over Jordan and she made the son of Gira a Benjamin which was of Bahuram hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet King David and there were thousand men of Benjamin with him and Zeba the servant of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him and they went over Jordan before the king and they went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household and to do what he thought good and she made the son of Gira fell down before the king as he was come over Jordan and said unto the king let not my lord impute iniquity unto me neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem that the king should take it to his heart for thy servant doth know that I have sinned therefore behold I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king but Abishai the son of Zaria answered and said shall not she may be put to death for this because he cursed the lord's anointed and David said what have I to do with you ye sons of Zaria that ye should this day be adversaries unto me shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel therefore the king said unto she may thou shalt not die and the king swear unto him and Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king and had neither dressed his feet nor trimmed his beard nor washed his clothes from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace and it came to pass when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king that the king said unto him wherefore wentest not thou with me Mephibosheth and he answered Lord, O king my servant deceived me for thy servant said I will saddle me and ask that I may ride thereon and go to the king because thy servant is lame and he has slandered thy servant unto my lord the king but my lord the king is an angel of God do therefore what is good in thine eyes for all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table what right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king and the king said unto him why speakest thou any more of thy matters I have said thou and Zeba divide the land and Mephibosheth said unto the king yea let him take all for as much as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house and Basili the Gileadite came down from Rogelim and went over Jordan with the king and knocked him over Jordan now Basili was a very aged man even four score years old and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim for he was a very great man and the king said unto Basili come thou over with me and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem and Basili said unto the king how long have I to live that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem I am this day four score years old and can I discern between good and evil can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward let thy servant I pray thee turn back again that I may die in my own city and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother but behold thy servant Chimham let him go over with my lord the king and do to him what shall seem good unto thee and the king answered Chimham shall go over with me and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee and whatsoever thou shalt require of me that will I do for thee and all the people went over Jordan and when the king was come over the king kissed Basili and blessed him and he returned unto his own place then the king went on to Gilgal and Chimham went on with him and all the people of Judah conducted the king and also half the people of Israel and behold all the men of Israel came to the king and said unto the king why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away and have brought the king and his household and all David's men with him over Jordan and all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel because the king is near of kin to us wherefore then be ye angry for this matter have we eaten at all of the king's cost or have he given us any gift and the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said we have ten parts in the king and we have also more right in David than ye why then did ye despise us that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king and the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel End of Chapter 19 Chapter 20 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 20 So every man of Israel went up from after David and followed Sheba the son of Bikri but the men of Judah clave unto their king from Jordan even to Jerusalem and David came to his house at Jerusalem and the king took the ten women his concubines and the men of Judah clave unto their king from Jordan even to Jerusalem and David came to his house and the king took the ten women his concubines whom he had left to keep the house and put them in ward and fed them but went not in unto them So they were shut up unto the day of their death living in widowhood Then said the king to Amasa Assemble me the men of Judah within three days and be thou here present So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him and David said to Abishai Now shall Sheba the son of Bikri do us more harm than did Absalom Take thou thy Lord's servants and pursue after him lest he get him fenced cities and escape us And they went out after him Joab's men and the Cherithites and the Pelithites and all the mighty men and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue after Sheba the son of Bikri When they were at the Great Stone which is in Gibeon Amasa went before them and Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof and as he went forth it fell out and Joab said to Amasa Art thou in health, my brother and Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him but Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib and shed out his brows to the ground not again and he died so Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bikri and one of Joab's men stood by him and said he that favours Joab and he that is for David let him go after Joab and Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway and when the men saw that all the people stood still he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field and all that everyone that came by him stood still when he was removed out of the highway all the people went on after Joab to pursue after Sheba the son of Bikri and he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel and to Bethmarka and all the Berites and they were gathered together and went also after him and they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmarka and they cast up a bank against the city and it stood in the trench and all the people that were with Joab batted the wall to throw it down then cried a wise woman out of the city hear hear say I pray you unto Joab come near hither that I may speak with thee and when he was come near unto her the woman said art thou Joab and he answered I am he then she said unto him hear the words of thine handmaid then she spoke saying they will want to speak in old time saying they shall surely ask council at Abel and so they ended the matter I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord and Joab answered and said far be it far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy but a man of Mount Ephraim Sheba the son of Bikri by name hath lifted up his hand against the king even against David deliver him only and I will depart from the city and the woman said unto Joab behold his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom and they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bikri and cast it out to Joab they knew a trumpet and they retired from the city every man to his tent and Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king now Joab was over all the host of Israel and Baniah the son of Jehoedah was over the charathites and over the pelithites and Adoram was over the tribute and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahulud was the recorder and Sheba was scribe and Zadok and Abiathah were the priests and Ira also the jireite was a chief ruler about David End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Joy Chan the Bible King James Version Second Samuel then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year and David inquired of the Lord and the Lord answered it is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the gibbonites and the king called the gibbonites and said unto them now the gibbonites were not of the children of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites and the children of Israel had sawn unto them and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah wherefore David said unto the gibbonites what shall I do for you and wherewith shall I make the atonement that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord and the gibbonites said unto him we will have no silver nor gold of Saul nor of his house neither for us shall thou kill any man in Israel and he said what ye shall say that will I do for you and they answered the king the man that consumed us and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us and we will hang them up unto the Lord and gibbia of Saul whom the Lord did choose and the king said I will give them but the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul because of the Lord's earth that was between them between David and Jonathan the son of Saul but the king took the two sons Rizpa the daughter of Aya whom she bear unto Saul Ammoni and Mephibosheth and the five sons of Michael the daughter of Saul whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Basilite the mehalothite and he delivered them into the hands of the gibbonites and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord and they fell all seven together and were put to death in the days of harvest in the first days in the beginning of barley harvest and Rizpa the daughter of Aya took sackcloth and spread it for her upon the rock from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night and it was told David what Rizpa the daughter of Aya the concubine of Saul had done and David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabosh Gilead which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan where the Philistines had hanged them when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa and he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged and the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zila in the sepulchre of Kish his father and they performed all that the king commanded and after that God was entreated for the land moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel and David went down and his servants with him and fought against the Philistines and David waxed faint and Ishbi Benob which was of the sons of the giant the weight of whose spear weighed 300 shekels of brass in weight he being girded with a new sword thought to have slain David but Abishai the son of Zeruiah suckered him and smote the Philistine and killed him then the men of David swore unto him saying no more out with us to battle that thou quench not the light of Israel and it came to pass after this that there was again a battle with the Philistines at gobb and Simachi the Hushethite slew Saph which was of the sons of the giant and there was again a battle in gobb with the Philistines where Al-Hanan the son of Yariah Regum, Abethlehemite slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam and there was yet a battle in Gath where was a man of great stature that had on every hand six fingers and on every foot six toes four and twenty a number and he also was born to the giant and when he defied Israel Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him these four were born to the giant in Gath and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of Second Samuel of the Bible King James Version This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Joy Chan The Bible King James Version Second Samuel Chapter 22 And David speak unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies and out of the hand of Saul and he said the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer the God of my rock in him will I trust he is my shield and the horn of my salvation my high tower and my refuge my saviour thou savest me from violence I will call on the Lord who is worthy to be praised so shall I be saved from my enemies when the waves of death compassed me the floods of ungodly men made me afraid the sorrows of hell compassed me about the snares of death prevented me in my distress I called upon the Lord and cried to my God and he did hear my voice out of his temple and my cry did enter into his ears then the earth shook and trembled the foundations of heaven moved and shook because he was wroth they went up a smoke out of his nostrils and fire out of his mouth devoured coals were kindled by it he bowed the heavens also and came down and darkness was under his feet and he rode upon a cherub and did fly and he was seen upon the wings of the wind and he made darkness pavilions round about him dark waters and thick clouds of the skies through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled the Lord thundered from heaven and the most high uttered his voice and he sent out arrows and scattered them lightning and discomforted them and the channels of the sea appeared the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuking of the Lord at the blast of the breath of his nostrils he sent from above he took me he drew me out of many waters he delivered me from my strong enemy and from them that hated me for they were too strong for me they prevented me in the day of my calamity but the Lord was my stay he brought me forth also into a large place he delivered me because he delighted in me the Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me for I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God for all his judgments were before me and with his statutes I did not depart from them I was also upright before him and have kept myself from my iniquity therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness according to my cleanness in his eyesight with the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful and with the upright man thou wilt show thyself upright with the pure thou wilt show thyself pure and with the forward thou wilt show thyself unsavory and the afflicted people thou wilt save but thine eyes are upon the haughty that thou mayest bring them down for thou art my lamp, O Lord and the Lord will lighten my darkness for by thee I have run through a troop by my God have I leapt over a wall as for God his way is perfect the word of the Lord is tried he is a buckler to all them that trusts in him God save the Lord and who is a rock save our God God is my strength and power and he maketh my way perfect he maketh my feet like hind's feet and seteth me upon my high places he teacheth my hands to war so that a bow of steel is broken by my arms thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation and thy gentleness hath made me great thou hast enlarged my steps under me so that my feet did not slip I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them and turned not again until I had consumed them I have consumed them and wounded them that they could not arise yea they are fallen under my feet for thou hast girded me with strength to battle them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me thou hast also given me the enemies that I might destroy them that hate me they looked but there was none to save even unto the Lord but he answered them not then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth I did stamp them as the mire of the street and did spread them abroad thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen a people which I knew not shall serve me strangers shall submit themselves unto me as soon as they hear they shall be obedient unto me strangers shall fade away and they shall be afraid out of their close places the Lord liveth and blessed be my rock and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation it is God that avenged me and that bringeth down the people under me and that bringeth me forth from my enemies thou also hast lifted me up on high above them against me thou hast delivered me from the violent man therefore I will give thanks unto thee O Lord and I will sing praises unto thy name he is the tower of salvation for his king and showeth mercy to his anointed unto David and to his seed