¹⁶and it cometh to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, hath come unto Absalom, that Hushai saith unto Absalom, ‘Let the king live! let the king live!’ ¹⁷And Absalom saith unto Hushai, ‘This thy kindness with thy friend! why hast thou not gone with thy friend?’ ¹⁸And Hushai saith unto Absalom, ‘Nay, for he whom Jehovah hath chosen, and this people, even all the men of Israel, his I am, and with him I abide;

Read in Logos

Public Domain.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”

Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

“Is this your loyalty to your friend?” Absalom asked Hushai. “Why didn’t you go with your friend?”

“Not at all,” Hushai answered Absalom. “I am on the side of the one that the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen. I will stay with him.

NLTNew Living Translation

When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. “Long live the king!” he exclaimed. “Long live the king!”

“Is this the way you treat your friend David?” Absalom asked him. “Why aren’t you with him?”

“I’m here because I belong to the man who is chosen by the Lord and by all the men of Israel,” Hushai replied.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

When Hushai the Arkite the friend of David came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king, long live the king!” Absalom said to Hushai, “This is your loyal love with your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No, rather, whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, to him I will be, and with him I will remain.

KJV 1900King James Version

And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.

Public Domain