1	And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared# him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run# before him.
			2	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 of one of the tribes of Israel. [came: Heb. to come]
			3	And Absalom said# unto him, See# , thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear# thee. [there...: or, none will hear thee from the king downward]
			4	Absalom said# moreover, Oh that I were made# judge# in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come# unto me, and I would do him justice# !
			5	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.
			6	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.
			7	And it came to pass after forty 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.
			8	For thy servant vowed# a vow while I abode# at Geshur in Syria, saying# , If the LORD shall bring me again# # # # indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve# the LORD.
			9	And the king said# unto him, Go# in peace. So he arose# , and went# to Hebron.
			10	But Absalom sent# spies# throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying# , As soon as ye hear# the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say# , Absalom reigneth# in Hebron.
			11	And with Absalom went# two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called# ; and they went# in their simplicity, and they knew# not any thing.
			12	And Absalom sent# for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor# , from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered# sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually# with Absalom.
			13	And there came# a messenger# to David, saying# , The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
			14	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 he overtake# us suddenly# , and bring# evil upon us, and smite# the city with the edge of the sword. [bring: Heb. thrust]
			15	And the king's servants said# unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint# . [appoint: Heb. choose]
			16	And the king went forth# , and all his household after him. And the king left# ten women, which were concubines, to keep# the house. [after...: Heb. at his feet]
			17	And the king went forth# , and all the people after him, and tarried# in a place that was far off# # .
			18	And all his servants passed on# beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came# after him from Gath, passed on# before the king.
			19	Then said# the king to Ittai 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# .
			20	Whereas thou camest# but yesterday, should I this day make thee go# up and down# # # # with us? seeing I go# whither I may, return# thou, and take back# thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. [go up...: Heb. wander in going]
			21	And Ittai 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.
			22	And David said# to Ittai, Go# and pass over# . And Ittai the Gittite passed over# , and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
			23	And all the country wept# with a loud voice, and all the people passed over# : the king also himself passed over# the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over# , toward the way of the wilderness. [Kidron: Gr. Cedron]
			24	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 Abiathar went up# , until all the people had done# passing# out of the city.
			25	And the king said# unto Zadok, Carry back# the ark of God into the city: if I shall find# favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again# , and shew# me both it, and his habitation:
			26	But if he thus say# , I have no delight# in thee; behold, here am I, let him do# to me as seemeth good unto him.
			27	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, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
			28	See# , I will tarry# in the plain# # of the wilderness, until there come# word from you to certify# me.
			29	Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried# the ark of God again# to Jerusalem: and they tarried# there.
			30	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 wept...: Heb. going up and weeping]
			31	And one told# David, saying# , Ahithophel is among the conspirators# with Absalom. And David said# , O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness# .
			32	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:
			33	Unto whom David said# , If thou passest on# with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
			34	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 counsel of Ahithophel.
			35	And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear# out of the king's house, thou shalt tell# it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
			36	Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son , and Jonathan Abiathar's son ; and by them ye shall send# unto me every thing that ye can hear# .
			37	So Hushai David's friend came# into the city, and Absalom came# into Jerusalem.