You prove to be reliable ¹  to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive ²  to one who is perverse. ³ 

You prove to be loyal ¹  to one who is faithful; ²  you prove to be trustworthy ³  to one who is innocent. ⁴ 

So Ish-bosheth took her ¹  from her husband Paltiel ²  son of Laish.

I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! ¹  But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!”

David’s power grew steadily, for the Lord God ¹  who commands armies ²  was with him. ³ 

David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities ¹  of Hebron.

They brought ¹  it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark,

Nathan replied to the king, “You should go ¹  and do whatever you have in mind, ²  for the Lord is with you.”

But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

So Joab and his men ¹  marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him.

As she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, “Come on! Get in bed with me, ¹  my sister!”

Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you ¹  reaches me.”

Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River.

So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, “May you be blessed by the Lord because you have shown this kindness ¹  to your lord Saul by burying him.

Now David’s soldiers ¹  and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David ²  had sent him away and he had left in peace.

But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children. ¹  It used to ²  eat his food, ³  drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms. ⁴  It was just like a daughter to him.

It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men ¹  with you. May genuine loyal love ²  protect ³  you!”

Let me ¹  return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.”

The Gibeonites said to him, “We ¹  have no claim to silver or gold from Saul or from his family, ²  nor would we be justified in putting to death anyone in Israel.” David asked, ³  “What then are you asking me to do for you?”

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet ¹  as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes.