^12:16Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David’s stronghold. ^12:17David went out to meet them and said,¹⁰ “If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you.¹¹ But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you,¹² may the God of our ancestors¹³ take notice and judge!” ^12:18But a spirit¹⁴ empowered¹⁵ Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said:¹⁶

“We are yours, O David!

We support¹⁷ you, O son of Jesse!

May you greatly prosper!¹⁸

May those who help you prosper!¹⁹

Indeed²⁰ your God helps you!”

So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.

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Footnotes

10 Heb “and David went out before them and answered and said to them.”
11 Heb “there will be to me concerning you a heart for unity.”
12 Heb “with no violence in my hands.”
13 Heb “fathers.”
14 Perhaps “the Spirit,” but the text has simply רוּחַ (ruakh) with no article (suggesting an indefinite reference).
15 Heb “clothed.”
16 The words “and he said” are supplied in the translation for clarity and for stylistic reasons.
17 Heb “are with.”
18 Heb “Peace, peace to you.” The Hebrew term שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”) is repeated to emphasize degree.
19 Heb “and peace to the one who helps you.”
20 Or “for.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, O David,

and with you, O son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

and peace to your helpers!

For your God helps you.”

Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Other Benjamites and some men from Judah also came to David in his stronghold. David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in peace to help me, I am ready for you to join me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our ancestors see it and judge you.”

Then the Spirit came on Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:

“We are yours, David!

We are with you, son of Jesse!

Success, success to you,

and success to those who help you,

for your God will help you.”

So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Other Benjaminites and men from Judah also went to David at the stronghold. David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come in peace to help me, my heart will be united with you, but if you have come to betray me to my enemies even though my hands have done no wrong, may the God of our ancestors look on it and judge.”

Then the Spirit enveloped Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:

We are yours, David,

we are with you, son of Jesse!

Peace, peace to you,

and peace to him who helps you,

for your God helps you.

So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

NLTNew Living Translation

Others from Benjamin and Judah came to David at the stronghold. David went out to meet them and said, “If you have come in peace to help me, we are friends. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when I am innocent, then may the God of our ancestors see it and punish you.”

Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the leader of the Thirty, and he said,

“We are yours, David!

We are on your side, son of Jesse.

Peace and prosperity be with you,

and success to all who help you,

for your God is the one who helps you.”

So David let them join him, and he made them officers over his troops.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And some of the sons of Benjamin and from Judah came to the fortress, to David. And David went out to meet them and answered and said to them, “If you come in peace to me, to help me, my heart will be joined with you, but if you come to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong on my hands, may the God of our fathers see and pass judgment.” Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the thirty who said:

“We are yours, O David!

And we are with you, O son of Jesse!

Peace! Peace to you, and peace to those who help you,

for your God helps you.”

So David appointed them as heads of the troops.

KJV 1900King James Version

And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it. Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said,

Thine are we, David,

And on thy side, thou son of Jesse:

Peace, peace be unto thee,

And peace be to thine helpers;

For thy God helpeth thee.

Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

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