And {one} told David, saying, Ahithophel {is} among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up {his} heel against me. {mine...: Heb. the man of my peace} {lifted...: Heb. magnified}

And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite {is} better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. {appointed: Heb. commanded}

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled {his} ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. {followed: Heb. done} {put his...: Heb. gave charge concerning his house}

They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

For {it was} not an enemy {that} reproached me; then I could have borne {it}: neither {was it} he that hated me {that} did magnify {himself} against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny {him}, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. {reprobate: or, void of judgment}

But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or {that} thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.

Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: {on high...: Heb. in the top of the people}

Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.

And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on {every} altar. {Pisgah: or, the hill}

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. {ungodly: or, unmerciful} {the deceitful...: Heb. a man of deceit and iniquity}

And Ahithophel {was} the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite {was} the king's companion:

[A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.] LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many {are} they that rise up against me.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on {every} altar.

The sacrifice of the wicked {is} abomination: how much more, {when} he bringeth it with a wicked mind? {with...: Heb. in wickedness?}

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up {his} heel against me. {mine...: Heb. the man of my peace} {lifted...: Heb. magnified}

But {it was} thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. {mine equal: Heb. according to my rank}

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled {his} ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. {followed: Heb. done} {put his...: Heb. gave charge concerning his house}

And {one} told David, saying, Ahithophel {is} among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.

And Ahithophel {was} the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite {was} the king's companion:

And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, {was} as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so {was} all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. {oracle: Heb. word}

And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:

Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.

And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped {him}. {he...: Heb. his words were with} {following...: Heb. helped after Adonijah}

And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? {speak...: Heb. are ye silent?}

And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.

{There is} no end of all the people, {even} of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also {is} vanity and vexation of spirit.

An evil {man} seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.