2 Samuel 13

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.

After some time, David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. Amnon, another of David's sons, was deeply in love with her.

And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her.

Amnon was so tormented by his feelings for his sister Tamar, her innocence making it even more difficult for him to act on his emotions, that he fell ill.

But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.

Amnon had a close friend named Jonadab, who was his cousin, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a cunning and crafty man.

And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.

He asked him, "Why do you, a prince, grow thinner each day? Won't you share your troubles?" And Amnon confessed, "I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.

Jonadab advised, "Pretend to be sick and lie in bed. When your father visits, ask him to send your sister Tamar to cook for you. You want to watch her prepare the meal and serve it to you."

So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.

Overwhelmed with despair, Amnon feigned illness. When the king visited him, he pleaded, "Please, let my sister Tamar bake me some cakes. I want to eat from her hands."

Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon’s house, and dress him meat.

David sent a message to Tamar, gently urging her, "Please, go to your brother Amnon's home and prepare a meal for him."

So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.

Tamar visited her brother Amnon's home, finding him resting. With a tender heart, she skillfully mixed flour, crafting it into cakes under his watchful gaze, and lovingly baked them.

And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.

She served him food with trembling hands, but he refused to eat. Amnon commanded, "Leave me alone." And so, everyone left him in solitude.

And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.

Amnon pleaded with Tamar, "Please, bring the food to my room. I want to taste your cooking." Tamar, with the cakes she had lovingly prepared, carried them to her brother Amnon's room.

And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.

As she brought him the food, he grabbed hold of her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."

And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

She pleaded with him, "No, my brother, don't force me! Such a thing must never be done in Israel. Please, don't do this disgraceful thing.

And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.

Where can I hide my disgrace? And you, you'll be seen as a fool in our land. Please, talk to the king; he won't keep me from you.

Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

Despite her pleas, he ignored her. Overpowering her with his strength, he forced her and raped her.

Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.

Amnon's love for her turned into an intense hatred, stronger than his previous affection. He coldly told her, "Get up, leave."

And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.

She pleaded with him, "Don't send me away, it hurts more than anything you've done before." But he refused to listen to her.

Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.

Then he summoned the servant who attended him and commanded, "Throw this woman out of here, away from me, and bolt the door behind her."

And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.

She wore a vibrant, multicolored dress, a symbol of her royal virginity. Amnon's servant put her out and firmly bolted the door behind her.

And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.

Tamar, heartbroken, smeared her head with ashes, tore her colorful dress, clutched her head, and wept uncontrollably.

And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.

Absalom, her brother, asked her, "Has Amnon, our brother, hurt you? Please, stay quiet for now, my sister. He's our brother, try not to dwell on this." And so, Tamar lived in loneliness in her brother Absalom's home.

But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

When King David learned about all these events, he was filled with intense anger.

And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.

Absalom didn't utter a single word, good or bad, to his brother Amnon. His heart was filled with hatred for Amnon, who had violated their sister, Tamar.

And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king’s sons.

Two long years later, Absalom, in the land of Baalhazor near Ephraim, hosted a grand sheep-shearing event. With a heart full of anticipation, he extended an invitation to all the king's sons.

And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.

Absalom approached the king, pleading, "Please, I have people to shear my sheep. Would you and your men join us?"

And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.

The king gently told Absalom, "No, my son, we can't all go now, it might burden you." Despite Absalom's insistence, the king refused to go, but he gave him his blessing.

Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?

Absalom pleaded, "If it's not too much, please let my brother Amnon join us." The king, puzzled, asked him, "Why should he accompany you?"

But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.

Absalom insisted, pleading that Amnon and all the king's sons accompany him.

Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.

Absalom instructed his servants, "Watch Amnon closely. When he's drunk and happy, and I give you the signal, kill him. Don't be afraid, I'm the one ordering this. Be brave and strong."

And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.

Absalom's servants, following his orders, dealt with Amnon. Shocked, all the king's sons jumped onto their mules and fled in fear.

And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king’s sons, and there is not one of them left.

As they journeyed, a heartbreaking message reached David. "Absalom has killed all your sons, not one remains," it said.

Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.

Overwhelmed with grief, the king stood up, ripped his clothes in despair, and collapsed on the ground. His servants, sharing his sorrow, watched on, their clothes torn in solidarity.

And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king’s sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.

Jonadab, David's nephew, spoke up, "Please don't think all the king's sons are dead. Only Amnon is gone, killed by Absalom's order, ever since the day he violated his sister Tamar."

Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.

Please, my lord, don't be distressed, believing all your sons are gone. Only Amnon has passed away.

But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

Absalom ran away in fear. The young watchman, alert and curious, raised his gaze. He saw a crowd approaching from the hill behind him, a sight that filled him with awe and apprehension.

And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king’s sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.

Jonadab turned to the king, his voice filled with reverence, "Look, your sons are approaching, just as I, your humble servant, predicted."

And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king’s sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.

As soon as he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived. Overwhelmed with emotion, they cried out and began to weep. The king and all his servants joined in, their cries echoing with deep sorrow.

But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.

Absalom escaped, seeking refuge with Talmai, Ammihud's son and king of Geshur. Meanwhile, David's heart ached daily for his lost son.

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

Overwhelmed with fear, Absalom escaped to Geshur, where he spent three long, lonely years.

And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.

King David's heart ached to go out to Absalom, for in time he had been consoled over Amnon's death.