2 Samuel 13

1 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.

After this, Absalom the son of David had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

2 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 any thing to her.

Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.

3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.

4 And he said to him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, pining from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

He said to him, “Why, son of the king, are you so sad from day to day? Won’t you tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

5 And Jonadab said to him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and pretend that thou art sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say to him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

Jonadab said to him, “Lay down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, tell him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’”

6 So Amnon lay down, and pretended that he was sick: and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make for me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

So Amnon lay down and faked being sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”

7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and prepare a meal for him.

Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go now to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.”

8 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 baked the cakes.

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.

9 And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Send out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

She took the pan and poured them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Have all men leave me.” Then every man went out from him.

10 And Amnon said to Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the room, that I may eat from your hand.” Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the room to Amnon her brother.

11 And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, Come lie with me, my sister.

When she had brought them near to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister!”

12 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.

She answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me! For no such thing ought to be done in Israel. Don’t you do this folly!

13 And I, where 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, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

As for me, where would I carry my shame? And as for you, you will be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.”

14 However he would not hearken to her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

However, he would not listen to her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.

15 Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, Arise, be gone.

Then Amnon hated her with exceedingly great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!”

16 And she said to him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst to me. But he would not hearken to her.

She said to him, “Not so, because this great wrong in sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me!” But he would not listen to her.

17 Then he called his servant that ministered to him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

Then he called his servant who ministered to him, and said, “Now put this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.”

18 And she had a garment of many 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.

She had a garment of various colors on her, for the king’s daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her.

19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of many colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head and went her way, crying aloud as she went.

20 And Absalom her brother said to her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

21 But when king David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.

22 And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

23 And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

After two full years, Absalom had sheep shearers in Baal Hazor, which is beside Ephraim; and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

24 And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

Absalom came to the king and said, “See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.”

25 And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be burdensome to thee. And he pressed him: yet he would not go, but blessed him.

The king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let’s not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him; however he would not go, but blessed him.

26 Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said to him, Why should he go with thee?

Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?”

27 But Absalom pressed him, that he should let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have I not commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

Absalom commanded his servants, saying, “Mark now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I tell you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I commanded you? Be courageous, and be valiant!”

29 And the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man rode upon his mule, and fled.

The servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man got up on his mule and fled.

30 And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the report came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.

While they were on the way, the news came to David, saying, “Absalom has slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left!”

31 Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

Then the king arose, and tore his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

32 And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah 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 this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered, “Don’t let my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

33 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.

Now therefore don’t let my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead; for only Amnon is dead.”

34 But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came many people by the way of the hill side behind him.

But Absalom fled. The young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming by way of the hillside behind him.

35 And Jonadab said to the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons are coming! It is as your servant said.”

36 And it came to pass, as soon as he had finished speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept exceedingly.

As soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voices and wept. The king also and all his servants wept bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day.

38 So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

39 And the soul of king David longed to go forth to Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

King David longed to go out to Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon, since he was dead.