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2 Samuel 12:19-23
New English Translation
2 Samuel 12:19-23
New English Translation
19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he[a] realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” They replied, “Yes, he’s dead.” 20 So David got up from the ground, bathed, put on oil, and changed his clothes. He went to the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then, when he entered his palace, he requested that food be brought to him, and he ate.
21 His servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? While[b] the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food!” 22 He replied, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought,[c] ‘Perhaps[d] the Lord will show pity and the child will live.’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back at this point? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 12:19 tn Heb “David.” The name has been replaced in the translation by the pronoun (“he”) for stylistic reasons.
- 2 Samuel 12:21 tc For the MT בַּעֲבוּר (baʿavur, “for the sake of”) we should probably read בְּעוֹד (beʿod, “while”). See the Lucianic Greek recension, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Targum.
- 2 Samuel 12:22 tn Heb “said.”
- 2 Samuel 12:22 tn Heb “Who knows?”
2 Samuel 12:19-23
New International Version
2 Samuel 12:19-23
New International Version
19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed,(A) put on lotions and changed his clothes,(B) he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept,(C) but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”
22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows?(D) The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’(E) 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him,(F) but he will not return to me.”(G)
New English Translation (NET)
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