1It happened after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
1押沙龍取得民心這事以後，押沙龍為自己預備了一輛戰車和一些馬匹，又預備了五十人在他前面奔走開路。
2Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. It was so, that when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”
2押沙龍常常清早起來，站在通往城門口的路旁。有爭訟的案件要進去請王判決的人，押沙龍就把他叫到跟前來，問他：“你是從哪一座城來的？”他回答：“僕人是從以色列某一支派來的。”
3Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you.”
3押沙龍就對他說：“你看！你的案件有情有理，但是王並沒有委人聽你的案子。”
4Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”
4押沙龍又說：“但願有人立我作這地的審判官，這樣，有案件或訴訟的人，都可以到我這裡來，我就給他公平的審判。”
5It was so, that when any man came near to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.
5如果有人走近押沙龍要拜他，他就伸手拉住他，並且與他親嘴。
6Absalom did this sort of thing to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
6所有來到王面前請求審決的以色列人，押沙龍都是這樣對待他們。因此，押沙龍暗中迷惑了以色列人的心。
7It happened at the end of forty years, that Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to Yahweh, in Hebron.
7押沙龍謀反過了四年，押沙龍對王說：“求你准我到希伯崙去，好向耶和華還我所許的願。
8For your servant vowed a vow while I stayed at Geshur in Syria, saying, ‘If Yahweh shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Yahweh.’”
8因為僕人住在亞蘭的基述的時候，曾經許了一個願說：‘如果耶和華使我再回到耶路撒冷來，我就要在希伯崙事奉他。’”
9The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he arose, and went to Hebron.
9王對他說：“你平平安安地去吧！”於是他動身，往希伯崙去了。
10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’”
10押沙龍派遣探子到以色列的各支派中，說：“你們一聽見號角的聲音，就說：‘押沙龍在希伯崙作王了！’”
11Two hundred men went with Absalom out of Jerusalem, who were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they didn’t know anything.
11有二百人從耶路撒冷應邀與押沙龍同去。他們都是誠誠實實地去，對內情一點也不知道。
12Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. The conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
12押沙龍獻祭的時候，差派人去把大衛的參謀基羅人亞希多弗從他的本城基羅請來。於是叛亂的勢力越來越大，跟隨押沙龍的人民也越來越多。
13A messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.”
13大衛逃亡有一個報信的人來見大衛說：“以色列人的心都歸向押沙龍了。”
14David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom. Make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil on us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”
14大衛就對所有在耶路撒冷與他在一起的臣僕說：“我們要起來逃走，不然我們就不能逃避押沙龍的面了，要趕快離開，恐怕他迅速趕上我們，使災難臨到我們身上，用刀擊殺全城的人。”
15The king’s servants said to the king, “Behold, your servants are ready to do whatever my lord the king chooses.”
15王的臣僕對王說：“我主我王決定的一切，僕人都必遵行。”
16The king went forth, and all his household after him. The king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the house.
16於是王出走了，他的全家都跟在他的後頭，卻留下十個妃嬪看守王宮。
17The king went forth, and all the people after him; and they stayed in Beth Merhak.
17王出發了，眾人都跟在他的腳後；他們在伯．墨哈停下來。
18All his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men who came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
18王所有的臣僕都從王的身邊走過去，所有的基利提人、比利提人和迦特人，就是從迦特來跟從王的六百人，都從王面前走過去。
19Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why do you also go with us? Return, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile. Return to your own place.
19王對迦特人以太說：“你為甚麼也與我們一同走呢？回去留在新王那裡吧！因為你是個外族人，是個遠離自己家鄉逃到這裡來的人。
20Whereas you came but yesterday, should I this day make you go up and down with us, since I go where I may? Return, and take back your brothers. Mercy and truth be with you.”
20你昨天才來，我怎可以今天就讓你與我們一同流浪呢？現在我還不知道我要到哪裡去。你回去吧！帶著你的兄弟一同回去吧！願耶和華的慈愛和信實與你同在。”
21Ittai answered the king, and said, “As Yahweh lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in what place my lord the king shall is, whether for death or for life, even there also will your servant be.”
21以太回答王說：“我指著永活的耶和華，在我主我王面前起誓，無論我主我王在甚麼地方，或生或死，你僕人也必在那裡。”
22David said to Ittai, “Go and pass over.” Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones who were with him.
22大衛對以太說：“你可以去，向前走吧！”迦特人以太就帶著所有屬他的人，和與他在一起的婦人孩子都向前走。
23All the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
23眾人向前走的時候，遍地的人都放聲大哭；王過了汲淪溪，眾人就都走上通往曠野去的路。
24Behold, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people finished passing out of the city.
24命令撒督等人返回耶路撒冷看哪！撒督也來了，所有抬 神約櫃的利未人都與他在一起。他們把 神的約櫃放下。亞比亞他上來，直到從城裡出來的眾人都走過去了。
25The king said to Zadok, “Carry back the ark of God into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation;
25王對撒督說：“把 神的約櫃抬回城裡去吧！我若是在耶和華眼前蒙恩，他必使我回來再看到約櫃和他安居的地方。
26but if he say thus, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
26他若是說：‘我不喜悅你。’看哪！我就在這裡，他看怎樣好，就怎樣對待我吧！”
27The king said also to Zadok the priest, “Aren’t you a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
27王又對撒督祭司說：“你不是先見嗎？平平安安地回到城裡去吧！你的兒子亞希瑪斯和亞比亞他的兒子約拿單要與你一同回去。
28Behold, I will stay at the fords of the wilderness, until word comes from you to inform me.”
28我會在曠野的渡口那裡等候，直到我接到從你們那裡來的消息。”
29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem; and they stayed there.
29於是撒督和亞比亞他把 神的約櫃抬回耶路撒冷去，並且住在那裡。
30David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people who were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
30大衛走上橄欖山；他蒙著頭，赤著腳，一邊上，一邊哭，所有與他在一起的人民也都蒙著頭，一邊上，一邊哭。
31Someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” David said, “Yahweh, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”
31有人告訴大衛說：“亞希多弗也在押沙龍的叛黨之中。”大衛禱告說：“耶和華啊，求你使亞希多弗的計謀變為愚拙。”
32It happened that when David had come to the top, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.
32大衛到了山頂，就是人敬拜 神的地方。看哪！有亞基人戶篩衣服撕裂，頭蒙灰塵，在那裡迎接他。
33David said to him, “If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me;
33大衛對他說：“你若是與我同去；必成為我的累贅。
34but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king. As I have been your father’s servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.’
34如果你回到城裡去，對押沙龍說：‘王啊！我願作你的僕人，以前我作你父親的僕人，現在我也照樣作你的僕人。’這樣，你就可以為我破壞亞希多弗的計謀。
35Don’t you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? Therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king’s house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
35撒督祭司和亞比亞他不是都在那裡與你在一起嗎？你在王宮裡聽見的話，都要告訴撒督祭司和亞比亞他。
36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear.”
36看哪！還有他們的兩個兒子在那裡，就是撒督的兒子亞希瑪斯和亞比亞他的兒子約拿單。你們聽見的一切，可以託他們來告訴我。”
37So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
37於是大衛的朋友戶篩進了城；押沙龍也進了耶路撒冷。