Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

2 Samuel 15:3

Then Absalom would say, "You've really got a strong case here! It's too bad the king doesn't have anyone to hear it.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Absalom;   Ambition;   Candidate;   Demagogism;   Diplomacy;   Electioneering;   Flattery;   Politics;   Popularity;   Usurpation;   Thompson Chain Reference - Absalom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Courts of Justice;   Flattery;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Justice;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Appeal;   Judges;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Absalom;   Court Systems;   Judge (Office);   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Judges;   Justice;   Priests and Levites;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Appeal;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Absalom;   David;   Jerusalem;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;   Sol'omon;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Decision;   Judge;   Samuel, Books of;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Appeal;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Absalom;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Absalom said to him, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king does not have anyone to listen to you.”
Hebrew Names Version
Avshalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized of the king to hear you.
King James Version
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
Lexham English Bible
Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and right, but for you there is no hearing with the king."
English Standard Version
Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you."
New Century Version
Then Absalom would say, "Look, your claims are right, but the king has no one to listen to you."
New English Translation
Absalom would then say to him, "Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you."
Amplified Bible
Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man appointed as the king's agent to listen to you."
New American Standard Bible
Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but you have no one to listen to you on the part of the king."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Absalom said vnto him, See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man deputed of the King to heare thee.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your words are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king."
Contemporary English Version
Absalom would say, "You deserve to win your case. It's too bad the king doesn't have anyone to hear complaints like yours.
Complete Jewish Bible
Avshalom would say to him, "Look, your cause is good and just; but the king hasn't deputized anyone to hear your case."
Darby Translation
And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man to hear thee [appointed] by the king.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Absalom would say, "Look, you are right, but King David will not listen to you."
George Lamsa Translation
And Absalom said to him, I see your arguments are good and just; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you.
Good News Translation
Absalom would say, "Look, the law is on your side, but there is no representative of the king to hear your case."
Literal Translation
And Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right. And there is no listener to you from the king.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
then sayde Absalom vnto him: Beholde, thy matter is righte and plaine: but there is noman appoynted ye of the kynge to heare the.
American Standard Version
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
Bible in Basic English
And Absalom would say to him, See, your cause is true and right; but no man has been named by the king to give you a hearing.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Absalom said vnto him: See, thy matters are good and righteous, but there is no man [deputed] of the king to heare thee.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Absalom said unto him: 'See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.'
King James Version (1611)
And Absalom said vnto him, See, thy matters are good & right, but there is no man deputed of the king to heare thee.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abessalom said to him, See, thy affairs are right and clear, yet thou hast no one appointed of the king to hear thee.
English Revised Version
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
Berean Standard Bible
Absalom would say, "Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Absolon answeride to hym, Thi wordis semen to me good and iust, but noon is ordeyned of the kyng to here thee. And Absolon seide, Who schal ordeyne me iuge on the lond,
Young's Literal Translation
And Absalom saith unto him, `See, thy matters [are] good and straightforward -- and there is none hearkening to thee from the king.'
Update Bible Version
And Absalom said to him, See, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear you.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Absalom said to him, See, thy matters [are] good and right; but [there is] no man [deputed] by the king to hear thee.
World English Bible
Absalom said to him, Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized of the king to hear you.
New King James Version
Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you."
New Life Bible
Then Absalom would say to him, "Your side of the problem is good and right. But there is no man to listen to you for the king."
New Revised Standard
Absalom would say, "See, your claims are good and right; but there is no one deputed by the king to hear you."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
See! thy cause, is good and right, - but, to hear it, thou hast no one, from the king.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Absalom answered him: Thy words seem to me good and just. But there is no man appointed by the king to hear thee. And Absalom said:
Revised Standard Version
Ab'salom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right; but there is no man deputed by the king to hear you."
THE MESSAGE
Then Absalom would say, "Look, you've got a strong case; but the king isn't going to listen to you." Then he'd say, "Why doesn't someone make me a judge for this country? Anybody with a case could bring it to me and I'd settle things fair and square." Whenever someone would treat him with special honor, he'd shrug it off and treat him like an equal, making him feel important. Absalom did this to everyone who came to do business with the king and stole the hearts of everyone in Israel.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Absalom would say to him, "See, your claims are good and right, but no man listens to you on the part of the king."

Contextual Overview

1 After this, Absalom bought a chariot and horses, and he hired fifty bodyguards to run ahead of him. 2 He got up early every morning and went out to the gate of the city. When people brought a case to the king for judgment, Absalom would ask where in Israel they were from, and they would tell him their tribe. 3 Then Absalom would say, "You've really got a strong case here! It's too bad the king doesn't have anyone to hear it. 4 I wish I were the judge. Then everyone could bring their cases to me for judgment, and I would give them justice!" 5 When people tried to bow before him, Absalom wouldn't let them. Instead, he took them by the hand and kissed them. 6 Absalom did this with everyone who came to the king for judgment, and so he stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thy matters: Numbers 16:3, Numbers 16:13, Numbers 16:14, Psalms 12:2, Daniel 11:21, 2 Peter 2:10

there is: etc. or, none will hear thee from the king downward, 2 Samuel 8:15, Exodus 20:12, Exodus 21:17, Proverbs 30:11, Proverbs 30:17, Ezekiel 22:7, Matthew 15:4, Acts 23:5, 1 Peter 2:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:16 - a matter 1 Kings 12:7 - speak good Psalms 55:3 - for they Psalms 109:2 - the mouth

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
Genesis 13:16
And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!
Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer's army until he caught up with them at Dan.
Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 29:21
A servant pampered from childhood will become a rebel.
Proverbs 30:23
a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.
Ecclesiastes 2:7
I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me.
Jeremiah 12:1
Lord , you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Absalom said unto him,.... After some further talk, and finding he had a suit at law to bring on, and either seeing it drawn up in writing, or hearing his account of it, at once declared, without hearing the other party:

see, thy matters [are] good and right; thy cause is a good cause, and if it could be heard by proper persons there is no doubt but things would go on thy side, and thou wouldest carry thy cause:

but [there is] no man [deputed] of the king to hear thee; the king is grown old himself and his sons are negligent, and do not attend to business, and there are none besides them appointed to hear causes; and he suggested, as appears by what follows, that he was not in commission, but if he was, or should he appointed a judge, he would attend to business, and people should not go away after this manner, without having justice administered unto them,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

To flatter each man by pronouncing a favorable verdict in his case, to excite a sense of grievance and discontent by censuring the king for remissness in trying the causes brought before him by his subjects, and to suggest a sure and easy remedy for all such grievances, namely, to make Absalom king; all this, coupled with great affability and courtesy, which his personal beauty and high rank made all the more effective, were the arts by which Absalom worked his way into favor with the people, who were light and fickle as himself.


 
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