1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

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.

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess.

And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

3 His second son was Chileab, born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. The third was Absalom, the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 The fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; the fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital.

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 The sixth was Ithream, born to Eglah, David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was gaining strength in Saul's house.

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.

7 Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth said to Abner, 'Why have you slept with my father's concubine?'

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

8 Abner became very angry over Ishbosheth's words and said, 'Am I a dog's head at Judah's disposal? Today I am loyal to the house of Saul your father, to his relatives and friends, and I have not delivered you into David's hand. Yet now you accuse me of sinning with this woman!'

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew 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?

9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not carry out what the Lord swore to David.

So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

10 I will transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.

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 Beersheba.

11 Ishbosheth was unable to answer Abner a word, because he was afraid of him.

And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12 Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to David, saying, 'Whose land is it? Make an agreement with me, and I will help bring all Israel to you.'

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.

13 'Good,' said David, 'I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing: Do not see my face unless you bring Michal, daughter of Saul, when you come to see me.'

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 Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14 Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, son of Saul, to say, 'Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a payment of one hundred Philistine foreskins.'

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 So Ishbosheth sent for her and took her away from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish.

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16 But her husband followed her, weeping as he went, all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, 'Go back home.' So he returned.

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, 'For some time you have wanted to make David your king.

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

18 Now do it! For the Lord has promised David, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.’'

Now then do it: for the LORD hath 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.

19 Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin and then went to Hebron to tell David everything that seemed good to Israel and the whole house of Benjamin.

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 When Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men, David prepared a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.

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.

21 Then Abner said to David, 'Let me go at once and gather all Israel to my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and you may rule over all that your heart desires.' So David sent Abner away in peace.

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.

22 Just then, David’s men and Joab returned from a raid, bringing a large amount of plunder, but Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away 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 in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

23 When Joab and all the soldiers who were with him arrived, they were told, 'Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king sent him away in peace.'

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

24 So Joab went to the king and said, 'What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone!'

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

25 'You know Abner son of Ner! He came to deceive you and to learn about your comings and goings and everything you are doing.'

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David knew nothing about it.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

27 When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside inside the gate, as if to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, killing him in revenge for the blood of his brother Asahel.

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 Asahel his brother.

28 Later, when David heard about this, he declared, 'I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner.

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:

29 May the guilt fall upon Joab and his entire family! May they always be afflicted with a discharge, skin disease, a need to rely on a crutch, death by the sword, or lack of bread.'

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.

30 (Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.)

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, 'Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.' And King David himself walked behind the bier.

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 bier.

32 They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept with him.

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.

33 The king sang a lament for Abner, saying: 'Should Abner die as a fool dies?

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?

34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked.' And all the people wept over him.

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.

35 Then the people came to urge David to eat something while it was still day. But David took an oath, saying, 'May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets.'

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

36 All the people took note of this, and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased them.

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

37 So on that day all the people and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, 'Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?'

And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 Today I am weak, even though I am anointed king. These sons of Zeruiah are too harsh for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds.

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.