The Daily Audio Bible
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17 Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, I shall choose to me twelve thousand of men, and I shall rise up, and pursue David in this night. (Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me choose twelve thousand men, and then I shall rise up, and pursue David this very night.)
2 And I shall fall on him, for he is weary, and with unbound hands I shall smite him. And when all the people fleeth that is with him, I shall smite the king left alone. (And I shall fall on him, for he is weary, and with enfeebled hands, and I shall strike him down. Yea, when all the people who be with him fleeth away, then I shall strike down only the king/then I shall strike down the king alone.)
3 And I shall lead again all the people, as one man is wont to be turned again; for thou seekest (only) one man, and (then) all the people shall be in peace. (And I shall bring back all the people, and they shall return as if but one man; for thou seekest only one man, and all the other people shall be unharmed.)
4 And the word(s) of Ahithophel pleased Absalom, and all the greater men in birth of Israel. (And Ahithophel’s plan pleased Absalom, and all the men of great age, that is, the elders, of Israel.)
5 And Absalom said, Call ye also Hushai of Archi, and hear we what also he saith. (And Absalom said, Now call ye Hushai the Archite, and let us hear what he saith.)
6 And when Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, Ahithophel hath spoken such a word; ought we (to) do thereafter, either nay? what counsel givest thou?
7 And Hushai said to Absalom, This is not good counsel, that Ahithophel hath given in this time. (And Hushai said to Absalom, This is not good advice which Ahithophel hath given thee at this time.)
8 And again Hushai said, Thou knowest, that thy father, and the men that be with him, be most strong, and in bitter soul, as if a she bear is fierce in the forest, when her whelps be ravished from her; but also thy father is a man warrior, and he shall not dwell with the people. (And Hushai said, Thou knowest, that thy father, and the men who be with him, be most strong, and with bitter souls, like when a she bear is fierce in the forest, after her cubs be stolen from her; but also thy father is a fighting man, and he shall not stay with the army.)
9 In hap now he is hid, either lurketh, in ditches, either in one place, in which he will hide him; and when any man falleth in the beginning, whoever shall hear (of) it, he shall hear, and shall say, Vengeance is done in the people that followed Absalom. (Perhaps even now he is hid, or lurketh, in a ditch, or some other place, where he hideth himself; and when any of your men falleth at the beginning, whoever shall hear of it, he shall say, Revenge is now taken on the people who followed Absalom.)
10 And each full strong man, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall be discomforted for dread; for all the people of Israel knoweth, that thy father is strong, and that all the men be strong, that be with him. (And then even the strongest man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, shall be enfeebled by fear; for all the people of Israel know that thy father is strong, and that all the men who be with him also be strong.)
11 But this seemeth to me to be rightful counsel; (let) all Israel be gathered to thee, from Dan till to Beersheba, (and they shall be as) unnumberable as the sand of the sea; and thou shalt be in the midst of them.
12 And we shall fall upon him, in whatever place he is found, and we shall cover him, as dew is wont to fall on the earth; and we shall not leave (any) of the men that be with him, soothly not one. (And then we shall fall on David wherever he is found, and we shall cover him like dew is wont to fall on the ground; and we shall not leave alive any of the men who be with him, no not one.)
13 That if he entereth into any city, all Israel shall compass that city with ropes, and we shall draw it into the strand, yea that nothing be found, soothly not a little stone thereof. (And if he entereth into any city, all Israel shall surround that city with ropes, and we shall draw it into the stream, yea so that nothing be found of it, truly not even a little stone of it.)
14 And Absalom said, and all the men of Israel, The counsel of Hushai of Archi is better than the counsel of Ahithophel; and the profitable counsel of Ahithophel was destroyed by God’s will, that the Lord should bring in evil on Absalom. (And Absalom, and all the men of Israel, said, Hushai the Archite’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s; and so Ahithophel’s good advice was destroyed by God’s will, so that the Lord could bring in evil upon Absalom.)
15 And Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar, the priests, Ahithophel gave counsel to Absalom, and to the elder men of Israel in this and this manner, and I gave such and such counsel.
16 Now therefore send ye soon, and tell ye to David, and say ye, Dwell thou not this night in [the] field places of the desert, but pass thou [over] without delay; lest peradventure the king be swallowed up, and all the people that is with him. (And so now send ye to him soon, and tell ye to David, Stay thou not this night at the Fords, or the crossings, of the Wilderness, but cross thou over the river without delay; lest perhaps the king be swallowed up, and all the people who be with him.)
17 And Jonathan and Ahimaaz stood beside the well of Rogel (And Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at Enrogel); (and) an handmaid went, and told to them, and (then) they went forth to tell the message to king David; for they might not be seen, neither (could) enter into the city.
18 And a child saw them, and he showed it to Absalom; and they entered with swift going into the house of a man in Bahurim, that had a pit in his place, and they went down into that pit. (But a boy saw them, and he went and told Absalom; and going swiftly, Jonathan and Ahimaaz entered into the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well at his place, and they went down into that well.)
19 And a woman took, and spread abroad a covering over the mouth of the pit, as (if) drying barley with the peel taken away, and so the thing was hid. (And a woman took, and spread out a covering over the mouth of the well, and then put some peeled barley on top of it, as if to dry it, and so they were hid.)
20 And when the servants of Absalom had come into the house, they said to the woman, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman answered to them, They passed (over) the river of waters, that is, (over the) Jordan. And when they that sought them had not found them, they turned again into Jerusalem (And so when the men who sought them could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem).
21 And when they had gone forth, they went up from the pit; and they went, and told to king David, and said, Rise ye up, and passeth soon (over) the flood, for Ahithophel hath given such counsel against you. (And when the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan went up from the well; and they went, and said to King David, Quickly rise ye up, and cross ye over the river, and know ye also that Ahithophel hath spoken such and such a plan against you.)
22 Therefore David rose up, and all the people that was with him, and they passed (over) Jordan, till it was clear day, before that the word was published; and soothly not one was left, that passed not (over) the flood. (And so David, and all the people who were with him, rose up, and they crossed the Jordan River before anyone knew it; and by daylight, everyone had crossed over the river.)
23 And Ahithophel saw, that his counsel was not done, and he saddled his ass, and rose up, and went into his house, and into his city; and when his house was disposed, he perished by hanging himself, and he was buried in the sepulchre of his father. (And Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, and so he saddled up his donkey, and went back to his house in his city; and after his affairs were in order, he hanged himself, and he was buried in his father’s tomb, or his grave.)
24 And David came into the castles, and Absalom passed [over] Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. (And as David came to Mahanaim, Absalom, and all the men of Israel who were with him, crossed over the Jordan River.)
25 And Absalom ordained Amasa for Joab upon his host; and Amasa was the son of a man that was called Ithra of Jezreel, the which entered to Abigail, the daughter of Nahash, (and) the sister of Zeruiah, that was the mother of Joab. (And Absalom ordained Amasa upon his army, in Joab’s place; and Amasa was the son of a man called Ithra, an Ishmaelite, who entered in to Abigail, who was Nahash’s daughter, and Zeruiah’s sister, Joab’s mother.)
26 And Israel setted tents with Absalom in the land of Gilead.
27 And when David had come into the castles (And when David had come to Mahanaim), Shobi, the son of Nahash of Rabbah, of the sons of Ammon, and Machir, the son of Ammiel, of Lodebar, and Barzillai, of Gilead, of Rogelim,
28 brought to him beddings, and tapets (brought him bedding, and blankets), and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and flour, and beans, and lentils/vetches, and fried chick(pea)s,
29 and honey, and butter, and sheep, and fat calves. And they gave those to David, and to the people that were with him, to eat; for they supposed the people to be made faint for hunger and thirst in desert (for they knew that the people would be made hungry and thirsty in the wilderness).
23 Therefore the knights when they had crucified him, took his clothes, and made four parts, to each knight a part, and a coat. And the coat was without seam, and woven all about [Forsooth the coat was without seam, and above woven by all].
24 Therefore they said together, Cut we not it, but cast we lot [but lay we lots], whose it is; that the scripture be fulfilled, saying, They parted my clothes to them, and on my cloak they cast lot [and into my cloth thy sent lots]. And the knights did these things.
25 But beside the cross of Jesus stood his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 Therefore when Jesus had seen his mother, and the disciple standing, whom he loved, he saith to his mother, Woman, lo! thy son.
27 Afterward he saith to the disciple, Lo! thy mother. And from that hour the disciple took her into his mother [And from that hour the disciple took her into his things].
28 Afterward Jesus witting, that now all things be ended, that the scripture were fulfilled [that the scripture should be fulfilled], he saith, I thirst.
29 And a vessel was set full of vinegar. And they laid in hyssop about the sponge full of vinegar, and put it to his mouth.
30 Therefore when Jesus had taken the vinegar, he said, It is ended. And when his head was bowed down, he gave up the ghost/And he bowed down the head, and sent out the spirit.
31 Therefore for it was pask eve, that the bodies should not abide on the cross in the sabbath, for that was a great sabbath day [Therefore for it was the making ready of pask, that the bodies should not dwell in the cross in the sabbath, for that day of sabbath was great], the Jews prayed Pilate, that the hips of them should be broken, and they [should be] taken away.
32 Therefore knights came, and they brake the thighs of the first, and of the other, that was crucified with him.
33 But when they were come to Jesus [Forsooth when they had come to Jesus], as they saw him dead then, they brake not his thighs;
34 but one of the knights opened his side with a spear, and at once [and anon] blood and water went out.
35 And he that saw, bare witnessing [thereof], and his witnessing is true; and he knoweth that he saith true things, that ye believe.
36 And these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, Ye shall not break a bone of him.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall see in whom they pierced through.
38 But after these things Joseph of Arimathaea prayed Pilate, that he should take away the body of Jesus, for that he was a disciple of Jesus, but privily for dread of the Jews. And Pilate suffered. And so he came [Therefore he came], and took away the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus came also, that had come to him first by night, and brought a medley of myrrh and aloes, as it were an hundred pound. [Soothly and Nicodemus came, that had come first to Jesus by night, bearing a medley of myrrh and aloes, as an hundred pound.]
40 And they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen clothes with sweet smelling ointments [and bound it in linen clothes with sweet ointments, or spices], as it is [the] custom to Jews for to bury.
41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 Therefore there they put Jesus, for the vigil of Jews' feast [for the making ready of Jews], for the sepulchre was nigh.
129 [Pe]. Lord, thy witnessings be wonderful; therefore my soul sought those. (Lord, thy teachings be wonderful; and so my soul gladly keepeth them/and so I gladly obey them.)
130 Declaring of thy words lighteneth; and it giveth understanding to meek men. (The declaring, or the exposition, of thy words bringeth light, or enlightenment; and it giveth understanding even to the simple, or the untaught.)
131 I opened my mouth, and drew the spirit (and drew my breath, yea, I panted); for I desired thy commandments.
132 Behold thou on me, and have mercy on me; by the doom of them that love thy name. (Look thou upon me, and have mercy on me; as thou hast decreed thou shalt do, for those who love thy name.)
133 (Ad)dress thou my goings by thy speech; that all unrightfulness have not lordship on me. (Direct thou my ways according to thy word; and do not let any unrighteousness have lordship, or rule, over me.)
134 Again-buy thou me from the false challenges of men; that I keep thy behests. (Save thou me from those who would oppress me; so that I can obey thy precepts.)
135 Lighten thy face on thy servant; and teach thou me thy justifyings. (Let thy face shine upon thy servant; and teach thou me thy statutes.)
136 Mine eyes led forth the outgoings of waters; for they kept not thy law. (My eyes stream with tears; because of those who do not obey thy Law.)
137 [Tzaddi]. Lord, thou art just; and thy doom is rightful. (Lord, thou art just; and thy judgements, or thy decrees, be righteous.)
138 Thou hast commanded rightfulness, thy witnessings; and thy truth greatly to be kept. (The teachings that thou hast commanded be right, and true; and greatly to be obeyed.)
139 My fervent love made me to be melted, either languished; for mine enemies forgat thy words. (My fervent love for thee made me feel greatly distressed; because my enemies did not obey thy words.)
140 Thy speech is set afire; and thy servant loved it. (Thy word is tried by fire; and thy servant loveth it.)
141 I am young, and despised; I forgat not thy justifyings. (I am young and despised; but I do not forget thy precepts.)
142 Lord, thy rightfulness is rightfulness [into] without end; and thy law is truth. (Lord, thy righteousness is righteousness forever; and thy Law is true forever/and thy Law is the truth forever.)
143 Tribulation and anguish have found me; thy behests is my thinking. (Though trouble and anguish have found me; thy commandments still be my delight.)
144 Thy witnessings is equity [into] without end (Thy teachings be just forever); give thou understanding to me, and I shall live.
145 [Koph]. I cried in all mine heart, Lord, hear thou me; I shall seek thy justifyings. (I cried with all my heart, O Lord, please answer me; for I shall follow thy statutes.)
146 I cried to thee, make thou me safe; that I keep thy commandments. (I cried to thee, save thou me; so that I can keep thy commandments/and I shall obey thy commandments.)
147 I before came in ripeness, and I cried; I hoped above on thy words. (I came before thee in the morning; I have great hope in thy words.)
148 Mine eyes before came to thee full early; that I should bethink (on) thy speeches. (My eyes be open through the night/I lie awake all night; so that I can think about thy words.)
149 Lord, hear thou my voice by thy mercy; and quicken thou me by thy doom. (Lord, hear thou me in thy mercy; and grant thou me life according to thy judgement./Lord, hear thou me in thy love; and grant thou me life by thy decree.)
150 They that pursue me nighed to wickedness; forsooth they be made far from thy law. (They who pursue me approach near to wickedness; and they be made far from thy Law./They who wickedly pursue me come near to me; but they be made far from thy Law.)
151 Lord, thou art nigh; and all thy ways be truth. (Lord, thou art near; and all thy commandments be true.)
152 In the beginning I knew of thy witnessings; for thou hast founded those [into] without end. (Long ago I knew of thy teachings; for thou hast founded them to last forever.)
12 They that do wickedly be abominable to the king; for the throne of the realm is made steadfast by rightfulness.
13 The will of kings is just lips; he that speaketh rightful things, shall be (ad)dressed. (The desire of kings is just, or truthful, words; he who speaketh upright things shall be favoured.)
2001 by Terence P. Noble