The Daily Audio Bible
Today's audio is from the NLT. Switch to the NLT to read along with the audio.
The Woman of Tekoa
14 Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that (A)the king’s heart was inclined toward Absalom. 2 So Joab sent to (B)Tekoa and [a]brought a wise woman from there and said to her, “Please pretend to be a mourner, and put on mourning garments now, and do not (C)anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has been mourning for the dead many days; 3 then you shall go to the king and speak to him in this manner.” So Joab put (D)the words in her mouth.
4 So the woman of Tekoa [b]spoke to the king, and she fell on her [c]face to the ground and (E)prostrated herself and said, “(F)Save, O king.” 5 And the king said to her, “What is your trouble?” And she [d]answered, “Truly I am a widow; my husband has died. 6 And your servant-woman had two sons, but the two of them struggled together in the field, and there was no one to deliver between them, so one struck the other and put him to death. 7 And behold, (G)the whole family has risen against your servant-woman, and they say, ‘Hand over the one who struck his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed, (H)and destroy the heir also.’ Thus they will extinguish my coal which remains, so as to [e]leave my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.”
8 Then the king said to the woman, “Go to your house, and I will give a command concerning you.” 9 And the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “O my lord, the king, (I)the iniquity is on me and my father’s house, but (J)the king and his throne are guiltless.” 10 So the king said, “Whoever speaks to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore.” 11 Then she said, “Please let the king remember Yahweh your God, (K)so that the avenger of blood will not continue to bring about ruin, so that they would not destroy my son.” And he said, “(L)As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
12 Then the woman said, “Please let your servant-woman speak a word to my lord the king.” And he said, “Speak.” 13 Then the woman said, “(M)Why then have you thought up such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring back (N)his banished one. 14 For (O)we will surely die and are (P)like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away life, but thinks up [f]ways so that (Q)the banished one will not be cast out from him. 15 So now, [g]the reason I have come to speak this word to my lord the king is that the people have made me afraid; so your servant-woman said, ‘Let me now speak to the king, perhaps the king will perform the word of his maidservant. 16 For the king will listen [h]and deliver his maidservant from the [i]hand of the man who would destroy [j]both me and my son from (R)the inheritance of God.’ 17 Then your servant-woman said, ‘Please let the word of my lord the king be a resting place, for as (S)the angel of God, so is my lord the king to listen with discernment through the good and evil. And may Yahweh your God be with you.’”
18 Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.” 19 So the king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” And the woman answered and said, “As your soul lives, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king has spoken. Indeed, it was (T)your servant Joab who commanded me, and it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant-woman; 20 in order to change the appearance of things your servant Joab has done this thing. But my lord is wise, (U)like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know all that is in the earth.”
David Brings Back Absalom
21 Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, (V)I have done this thing; go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.” 22 And Joab fell on his face to the ground, prostrated himself and blessed the king; then Joab said, “Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, O my lord, the king, in that the king has performed the word of his servant.” 23 So Joab arose and went to (W)Geshur and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 24 However the king said, “Let him turn to (X)his own house, and let him not see my face.” So Absalom turned to his own house and did not see the king’s face.
25 Now in all Israel was no one as handsome as Absalom, so highly praised; (Y)from the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no defect in him. 26 When he (Z)shaved the hair of his head (and it was at the end of every year that he shaved it, for it was heavy on him so he shaved it), he weighed the hair of his head at [k]200 shekels by the king’s weight. 27 (AA)And to Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter whose name was (AB)Tamar; she was a woman of beautiful appearance.
28 Now Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, (AC)and did not see the king’s face. 29 Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he was not willing to come to him. So he sent again a second time, but he was not willing to come. 30 Therefore he said to his servants, “See, (AD)Joab’s portion of land is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the portion of land on fire. 31 Then Joab arose, came to Absalom at his house and said to him, “Why have your servants set my portion of land on fire?” 32 And Absalom [l]answered Joab, “Behold, I sent for you, saying, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to say, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me still to be there.”’ So now, let me see the king’s face, (AE)and if there is iniquity in me, let him put me to death.” 33 So Joab came to the king and told him, and he called for Absalom. Thus he came to the king and prostrated himself on his [m]face to the ground before the king, and (AF)the king kissed Absalom.
Absalom’s Conspiracy
15 Now it happened afterwards, that (AG)Absalom prepared for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men as runners before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and (AH)stand beside the way to the gate; and when any man had a case to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And he would say, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “See, (AI)your words are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “(AJ)Oh that one would appoint me judge in the land, then every man who has any case or judgment could come to me and I would justify him.” 5 And when a man came near to prostrate himself before him, he would send forth his hand and take hold of him and (AK)kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; (AL)so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.
7 Now it happened at the end of [n]forty years that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow which I have vowed to Yahweh, in (AM)Hebron. 8 For your servant (AN)vowed a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘(AO)If Yahweh shall indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’” 9 And the king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose and went to Hebron. 10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘(AP)Absalom is king in Hebron.’” 11 Now two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, (AQ)who were invited and (AR)went [o]innocently, and they did not know anything. 12 And Absalom sent for (AS)Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city (AT)Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for (AU)the people increased continually with Absalom.
David Flees Jerusalem
13 Then an informant came to David, saying, “(AV)The hearts of the men of Israel [p]have followed Absalom.” 14 So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “(AW)Arise and let us flee, for otherwise there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Go in haste, lest he overtake us hastily and drive calamity on us and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 15 Then the king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.” 16 So the king went out and all his household [q]with him. But (AX)the king left ten concubines to keep the house. 17 And the king went out and all the people [r]with him, and they stopped at the last house. 18 Now all his servants passed on beside him, (AY)all the Cherethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, (AZ)six hundred men who had come [s]with him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19 Then the king said to (BA)Ittai the Gittite, “Why will you also go with us? Return and remain with the king, for you are a foreigner and also an exile; return to your own place. 20 You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander with us, going about, while (BB)I go where I go? Return and cause your brothers to return; (BC)lovingkindness and [t]truth be with you.” 21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely (BD)wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.” 22 So David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” So Ittai the Gittite passed over with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.
Jesus Betrayed and Arrested
18 When Jesus had spoken these words, (A)He went forth with His disciples to the other side of (B)the Kidron Valley, where there was (C)a garden, into which He entered [a]with His disciples. 2 Now Judas also, who was [b]betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had (D)often gathered there with His disciples. 3 (E)Judas then, having received (F)the Roman [c]cohort and (G)officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, *came there with lanterns and (H)torches and weapons. 4 So Jesus, (I)knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and *said to them, “(J)Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6 So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “(K)Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” 9 in order that the word which He spoke would be fulfilled, “(L)Of those whom You have given Me, I lost not one.” 10 Simon Peter then, (M)having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; (N)the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
Jesus Before the Priests; Peter Denies Jesus
12 (O)So (P)the Roman [d]cohort and the [e]commander and the (Q)officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, 13 and led Him to (R)Annas first; for he was father-in-law of (S)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that (T)it was better for one man to die on behalf of the people.
15 (U)And Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into (V)the court of the high priest, 16 (W)but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. 17 (X)Then the servant-girl who kept the door *said to Peter, “(Y)Are you not also one of this man’s disciples?” He *said, “I am not.” 18 Now the slaves and the (Z)officers were standing there, having made (AA)a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were (AB)warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
19 (AC)The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I (AD)have spoken openly to the world; I always (AE)taught in [f]synagogues and (AF)in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. 21 Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; behold, they know what I said.” 22 And when He had said this, one of the (AG)officers standing nearby (AH)gave Jesus a slap, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” 23 (AI)Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” 24 (AJ)So Annas sent Him bound to (AK)Caiaphas the high priest.
Mem
97 Oh how I (A)love Your law!
It is my (B)meditation all the day.
98 Your (C)commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are [a]mine forever.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my (D)meditation.
100 I perceive (E)more than the aged,
Because I have (F)observed Your precepts.
101 I have (G)restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102 I have not (H)turned aside from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103 How (I)sweet is Your [b]word to my [c]taste!
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 From Your precepts I (J)get perception;
Therefore I (K)hate every false way.
Nun
105 Your word is a (L)lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106 I have (M)sworn and I have confirmed,
To keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am exceedingly (N)afflicted;
O Yahweh, [d](O)revive me according to Your word.
108 Oh be pleased with the (P)freewill offerings of my mouth, O Yahweh,
And (Q)teach me Your judgments.
109 My (R)soul is continually [e]in my hand,
Yet I do not (S)forget Your law.
110 The wicked have (T)laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not (U)wandered from Your precepts.
111 I have (V)inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the (W)joy of my heart.
112 I have (X)inclined my heart to do Your statutes
Forever, (Y)to the end.
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.LSBible.org.