Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he {is such} a son of Belial, that {a man} cannot speak to him.

If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay {it} to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay {it} to heart.

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.

Now therefore, my lord, {as} the LORD liveth, and {as} thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to {shed} blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. {avenging...: Heb. saving thyself}

Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid {it} not to heart.

{Now} as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, {and} beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

[To the chief Musician, {A Psalm} of David.] The fool hath said in his heart, {There is} no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, {there is} none that doeth good.

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. {complaint: or, meditation}

Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he {is such} a son of Belial, that {a man} cannot speak to him.

Then answered all the wicked men and {men} of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them {ought} of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead {them} away, and depart. {those: Heb. men}

And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.

The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said {to be} bountiful.

{Certain} men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; {the children...: or, naughty men}

For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:

Every prudent {man} dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open {his} folly. {layeth...: Heb. spreadeth}

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

Better {is} the poor that walketh in his integrity, than {he that is} perverse in his lips, and is a fool.