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Joab Puts Absalom to Death
18 Then David [a]numbered the people who were with him and (A)set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2 And David sent the people out, (B)one-third under the hand of Joab, one-third under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one-third under the hand of (C)Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people, “I myself will surely go out with you also.” 3 But the people said, “(D)You should not go out; for if we indeed flee, they will not set their heart on us; even if half of us die, they will not set their heart on us. But now [b]you are worth ten thousand of us; so now it is better that you be ready to help us from the city.” 4 Then the king said to them, “Whatever is good in your sight I will do.” So (E)the king stood beside the gate, and all the people went out by hundreds and thousands. 5 Then the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And (F)all the people heard when the king commanded all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6 Then the people went out into the field to meet Israel, and the battle took place in (G)the forest of Ephraim. 7 And the people of Israel were [c]defeated there before the servants of David, and the slaughter there that day was great, 20,000 men. 8 And the battle there was scattered over the whole countryside, and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9 Then Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Now Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. And (H)his head caught fast in the oak, so he was [d]left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him passed onward. 10 Then a certain man saw it, he told Joab and said, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” 11 Then Joab said to the man who had told him, “Now behold, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? And I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a belt.” 12 So the man said to Joab, “Even if I should receive one thousand pieces of silver in my hand, I would not send forth my hand against the king’s son; for (I)in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘[e]Keep for me the young man Absalom!’ 13 Otherwise, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and (J)there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.” 14 Then Joab said, “I will not wait around here before you.” (K)So he took three [f]spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was yet alive in the [g]midst of the oak. 15 And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor gathered around and struck Absalom and put him to death.
16 Then (L)Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people. 17 And they took Absalom and cast him into [h]a deep pit in the forest and (M)set over him a very great heap of stones. And (N)all Israel fled, each to his tent. 18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and (O)set up for himself a pillar which is in (P)the King’s Valley, for he had said, “(Q)I have no son [i]to preserve my name.” So he named the pillar after his own name, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
David Weeps Over Absalom
19 Then (R)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and proclaim the good news to the king (S)that Yahweh has judged to save him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man for the good news this day, but you shall proclaim the good news another day; however, you shall not proclaim the good news today because the king’s son has died.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since (T)you will have no reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.
24 Now (U)David was sitting between the two gates; and (V)the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 25 And the watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 And the watchman said, “I see that the running of the first one (W)is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “(X)This is a good man and comes with good news.”
28 And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace!” And (Y)he prostrated himself before the king with his [j]face to the ground. And he said, “(Z)Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” 29 Then the king said, “(AA)Is there peace with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but (AB)I did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for (AC)Yahweh has judged to save you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” 32 Then the king said to the Cushite, “(AD)Is there peace with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “(AE)Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
33 [k]Then the king trembled and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “(AF)O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! (AG)Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Joab Tells David to Speak to His Servants
19 Then it was told to Joab, “Behold, (AH)the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.” 2 And the salvation that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.” 3 So the people stole away to enter into the city that day, as people who are dishonored steal away when they flee in battle. 4 But as for the king, he (AI)wrapped his face up. Then the king cried out with a loud voice, “(AJ)O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have shamed the faces of all your servants, who today have provided escape for your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, 6 by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have informed all of us today that [l]princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, surely then it would be right in your eyes. 7 So now, arise, go out and speak to the heart of your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go out, surely (AK)not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be of greater evil for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
David Returns to Jerusalem
8 So the king arose and sat in the gate. And they told all the people, saying, “Behold, the king is (AL)sitting in the gate.” Then all the people came before the king.
Now (AM)Israel had fled, each to his tent. 9 And it happened that all the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “(AN)The king delivered us from the [m]hand of our enemies and (AO)provided us escape from the [n]hand of the Philistines, but now (AP)he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 However, Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So now, why are you silent about having the king return?”
The Empty Tomb
20 (A)Now on the first day of the week, (B)Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw (C)the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other (D)disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, “(E)They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 (F)So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and (G)stooping and looking in, he *saw the (H)linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and (I)the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the (J)linen wrappings, but folded up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who (K)had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet (L)they did not understand the Scripture, (M)that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again (N)to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 (O)But Mary was standing outside the tomb crying; and so, as she was crying, she (P)stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she *saw (Q)two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they *said to her, “(R)Woman, why are you crying?” She *said to them, “Because (S)they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *(T)saw Jesus standing there, and (U)did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus *said to her, “(V)Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him (W)in [a]Hebrew, “(X)Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to (Y)My brothers and say to them, ‘I (Z)ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18 (AA)Mary Magdalene *came, (AB)announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 So while it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were, for (AC)fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “[b](AD)Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, (AE)He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then (AF)rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “(AG)Peace be with you; (AH)as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He (AI)breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 (AJ)If you forgive the sins of any, their sins [c]have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
24 But (AK)Thomas, one of (AL)the twelve, called [d](AM)Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in (AN)His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, (AO)I will not believe.”
26 And [e]after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been [f]shut, and stood in their midst and said, “(AP)Peace be with you.” 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “(AQ)Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? (AR)Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”
Why This Gospel Was Written
30 (AS)Therefore many other [g](AT)signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written (AU)so that you may believe that Jesus is the [h]Christ, (AV)the Son of God; and that (AW)believing you may have life in His name.
Resh
153 (A)See my (B)affliction and rescue me,
For I do not (C)forget Your law.
154 (D)Plead my cause and (E)redeem me;
Revive me according to Your [a]word.
155 Salvation is (F)far from the wicked,
For they (G)do not seek Your statutes.
156 (H)Many are Your [b]compassions, O Yahweh;
Revive me according to Your judgments.
157 Many are my (I)persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not (J)turn aside from Your testimonies.
158 I see the (K)treacherous and (L)loathe them,
Those who do not keep Your [c]word.
159 See how I (M)love Your precepts;
(N)O Yahweh, revive me according to Your lovingkindness.
160 The (O)sum of Your word is (P)truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments (Q)is everlasting.
Sin/Shin
161 (R)Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart (S)is in dread of Your words.
162 I (T)rejoice at Your [d]word,
As one who (U)finds much spoil.
163 I (V)hate and abhor lying,
But I (W)love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your (X)righteous judgments.
165 Those who love Your law have (Y)much peace,
And [e](Z)nothing causes them to stumble.
166 I (AA)hope for Your salvation, O Yahweh,
And I do Your commandments.
167 My (AB)soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I (AC)love them exceedingly.
168 I (AD)keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my (AE)ways are before You.
Tav
169 Let my (AF)cry of lamentation come near before You, O Yahweh;
(AG)Give me understanding (AH)according to Your word.
170 Let my (AI)supplication come before You;
(AJ)Deliver me according to Your [f]word.
171 Let my (AK)lips pour forth praise,
For You (AL)teach me Your statutes.
172 Let my (AM)tongue answer with Your [g]word,
For all Your (AN)commandments are righteous.
173 Let Your (AO)hand be [h]ready to help me,
For I have (AP)chosen Your precepts.
174 I (AQ)long for Your salvation, O Yahweh,
And Your law is my (AR)delight.
175 Let my (AS)soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your judgments help me.
176 I have (AT)wandered off like a lost sheep; search for Your slave,
For I have (AU)not forgotten Your commandments.
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