2 Samuel 14:5–11

¹AND 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.

²The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:

³But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, 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.

¹¶ And the LORD sent Nathan vnto Dauid: and he came vnto him, and said vnto him, There were two men in one citie; the one rich, and the other poore.

²The rich man had exceeding many flockes and herds.

³But the poore man had nothing saue one litle ewe lambe, which he had bought and nourished vp: and it grew vp together with him, and with his children, it did eate of his owne ^†meate, and dranke of his owne cup, and lay in his bosome, and was vnto him as a daughter.

⁸The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

⁹But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁰And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹¹But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹²Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹³And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁴Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹⁵And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

⁸The trees went foorth on a time to annoint a King ouer them, and they said vnto the Oliue tree, Reigne thou ouer vs.

⁹But the Oliue tree saide vnto them, Should I leaue my fatnesse, wherewith by mee they honour God and man, and ^‖goe to bee promoted ouer the trees?

¹⁰And the trees said to the Figge tree, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.

¹¹But the Figge tree saide vnto them, Should I forsake my sweetenesse, and my good fruit, and goe to be promoted ouer the trees?

¹²Then saide the trees vnto the Uine, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.

¹³And the Uine said vnto them, Should I leaue my wine, which cheareth God and man, and goe to bee promoted ouer the trees?

¹⁴Then said all the trees vnto the ^‖Bramble, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.

¹⁵And the Bramble said vnto the trees, If in trueth ye anoint me King ouer you, then come, and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the Bramble, and deuoure the Cedars of Lebanon.

²⁶But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

²⁷For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

²⁶But vnto the damosel thou shalt doe nothing, there is in the damosel no sinne worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, euen so is this matter.

²⁷For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damosel cried, and there was none to saue her.

¹³And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

¹³And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrewes stroue together: And hee said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

⁸And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

⁸And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to passe ^*when they were in the field, that Cain rose vp against Abel his brother, and slew him.

¹⁹The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

¹⁹The reuenger of blood himselfe shall slay the murtherer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the sonne, they said among themselues, ^*This is the heire, come, let vs kill him, and let vs sease on his inheritance.

¹⁷And 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.

¹⁷And the Elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him vp from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eate bread with them.

¹²Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

¹³Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

¹²Then the Elders of his citie shall send and fetch him thence, and deliuer him into the hand of the auenger of blood, that he may die.

¹³Thine eye shall not pittie him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may goe wel with thee.

⁶And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

⁶And it shall be, that the first borne which she beareth, shall succeede in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.

⁴⁵Until thy brother’s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

⁴⁵Untill thy brothers anger turne away from thee, and hee forget that, which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be depriued also of you both in one day?

¹⁴Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.

¹⁴Behold, thou hast driuen me out this day from the face of the earth, and from thy face shall I be hid, and I shall be a fugitiue, and a vagabond in the earth: and it shall come to passe, that euery one that findeth me, shall slay me.

¹³He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

^13†He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame vnto him.

⁵And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

⁶And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

⁵And Dauids anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liueth, the man that hath done this thing, shall ^‖surely die.

⁶And he shall restore the Lambe ^*fourefold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pittie.

⁴Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

⁴Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained vnto Mephibosheth. And Ziba saide, ^†I humbly beseech thee that I may finde grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.

³And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

^3†And shal make him of quicke vnderstanding in the feare of the LORD, and he shall not iudge after the sight of his eyes, neither reproue after the hearing of his eares.

^4‖*But with righteousnesse shall he iudge the poore, and reprooue with equitie, for the meeke of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rodde of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

¹⁶I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

¹⁶I was a father to the poore: and the cause which I knewe not, I searched out.

²⁴And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

²⁴And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, vpon me let this iniquitie be, and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speake in thine ^†audience, and heare the words of thine handmaid.

³³Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the Lord.

³³Their blood shall therefore returne vpon the head of Ioab, and vpon the head of his seed for euer: but vpon Dauid, and vpon his seede, and vpon his house, and vpon his throne, shall there bee peace for euer from the LORD.

²⁵Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

²⁵Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on vs, and on our children.

²⁸¶ And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

²⁹Let 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.

²⁸¶ And afterward when Dauid heard it, hee said, I and my kingdome are guiltlesse before the LORD for euer, from the ^†blood of Abner the sonne of Ner:

²⁹Let it rest on the head of Ioab, and on all his fathers house, & let there not ^†faile from the house of Ioab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staffe, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.

¹IF one be found slain in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:

²Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

³And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;

⁴And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley:

⁵And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:

⁶And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

⁷And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

⁸Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.

⁹So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.

¹¶ If one bee found slaine in the lande, which the LORD thy God giueth thee to possesse it, lying in the fielde, and it bee not knowen who hath slaine him:

²Then thy Elders and thy Iudges shall come forth, and they shall measure vnto the cities which are round about him that is slaine.

³And it shall be that the citie which is next vnto the slaine man, euen the Elders of that citie shall take an heifer which hath not bene wrought with, and which hath not drawen in the yoke.

⁴And the Elders of that citie shall bring downe the heifer vnto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sowen, and shall strike off the heifers necke there in the valley.

⁵And the Priests the sonnes of Leui shall come neere (for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister vnto him, and to blesse in the Name of the LORD:) and by their ^†worde shall euery controuersie and euery stroke bee tried.

⁶And all the Elders of that city that are next vnto the slaine man, shal wash their hands ouer the heifer that is beheaded in the valley.

⁷And they shall answere, and say, Our hands haue not shedde this blood, neither haue our eyes seene it.

⁸Be merciful, O LORD, vnto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood ^†vnto thy people of Israels charge, and the blood shall be forgiuen them.

⁹So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

¹³And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

¹³And his mother said vnto him, Upon me be thy curse, my sonne: onely obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

³³So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

³³So ye shall not pollute the lande wherein ye are: for blood, it defileth the land: and the ^†land cannot bee cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

⁴⁵And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

⁴⁵And the people said vnto Saul, Shall Ionathan die, who hath wrought this great saluation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liueth, there shal not one haire of his head fall to the ground: for hee hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Ionathan, that hee died not.

³⁰But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

^30*But the very haires of your head are all numbred.

¹⁹The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

¹⁹The reuenger of blood himselfe shall slay the murtherer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

⁵²And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.

⁵²And Solomon sayd, If hee will shewe himselfe a worthy man, there shall not an haire of him fall to the earth: but if wickednesse shall be found in him, he shall die.

³⁴Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

³⁴Wherefore, I pray you to take some meat, for this is for your health: for there shall not an haire fall from the head of any of you.

⁴¶ And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;

⁵As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

⁶Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

⁷Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

⁸And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;

⁹If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:

¹⁰That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.

⁴¶ And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee thither, that hee may liue: who so killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not ^†in time past,

⁵As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor, to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut downe the tree, and the ^†head slippeth from the ^†helue, and ^†lighteth vpon his neighbour that he die, he shall flee vnto one of those cities, and liue:

⁶Lest the auenger of the blood pursue the slaier, while his heart is hot, and ouertake him, because the way is long, and ^†slay him, whereas he was not worthy of death, in as much as hee hated him not ^†in time past.

⁷Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.

⁸And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast (as he hath sworne vnto thy fathers) and giue thee all the lande which hee promised to giue vnto thy fathers:

⁹(If thou shalt ^*keepe all these commandements to doe them, which I command thee this day, to loue the LORD thy God, and to walke euer in his wayes) ^*then shalt thou adde three cities moe for thee, beside these three:

¹⁰That innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giueth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be vpon thee.

²¹Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.

²¹Or in enmitie smite him with his hand, that he die: hee that smote him shall surely be put to death, for hee is a murderer: the reuenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when hee meeteth him.

⁴²And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

⁴²And Ionathan said to Dauid, Goe in peace, ^‖forasmuch as wee haue sworne both of vs in the Name of the LORD, saying; The LORD be betweene me and thee, and betweene my seede and thy seede for euer. And hee arose, and departed: and Ionathan went into the citie.

¹⁰And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

¹⁰And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liueth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

²²And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

²²And Abram said to the King of Sodome, I haue lift vp my hand vnto the LORD, the most high God, the possessour of heauen and earth,

²And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

²And Abraham said vnto his eldest seruant of his house, that ruled ouer all that he had, ^*Put, I pray thee, thy hand vnder my thigh:

³And I will make thee sweare by the LORD the God of heauen, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife vnto my sonne of the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell.

⁵⁰If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.

⁵⁰If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wiues beside my daughters, no man is with vs; See, God is witnesse betwixt mee and thee.

²And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

^2*And thou shalt sweare, The LORD liueth, in Trueth, in Iudgement, and in Righteousnes, and the nations shall blesse themselues in him, and in him shall they glorie.

³That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

⁴And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

⁵And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

⁶And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

³That the slayer that killeth any person vnawares and vnwittingly, may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the auenger of blood.

⁴And when he that doeth flee vnto one of those cities, shall stand at the entring of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the eares of the Elders of that citie; they shall take him into the citie vnto them, and giue him a place, that he may dwell among them.

⁵And if the auenger of blood pursue after him, then they shal not deliuer the slayer vp into his hand: because hee smote his neighbour vnwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.

⁶And hee shall dwell in that citie, vntill he stand before the Congregation for iudgement, and ^*vntill the death of the high Priest that shall bee in those dayes: then shall the slayer returne, and come vnto his owne city, and vnto his owne house, vnto the citie from whence he fled.

²⁷And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

²⁷And the reuenger of blood finde him without the borders of the citie of his refuge, and the reuenger of blood kill the slayer, he ^†shall not be guiltie of blood: