Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth {his} hands to vex certain of the church. {stretched...: or, began}

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

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

My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also {is} with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. {footmen: or, guard: Heb. runners}

I {counsel thee} to keep the king's commandment, and {that} in regard of the oath of God.

My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and {some} bade {me} kill thee: but {mine eye} spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he {is} the LORD'S anointed.

But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, {That} the men of Jabeshgilead {were they} that buried Saul.

And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? {it had been} good for me {to have been} there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be {any} iniquity in me, let him kill me.

So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.

{As} I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place {where} the king {dwelleth} that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, {even} with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand {shekels} of silver in mine hand, {yet} would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none {touch} the young man Absalom. {receive: Heb. weigh upon mine hand} {Beware...: Heb. Beware whosoever ye be of, etc}

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}

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. {break: Heb. profane}

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

An hypocrite with {his} mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. {Devise...: or, Practise no evil}

If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; {break: Heb. profane}

And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me. {my...: Heb. the men of my secret}

I {am for} peace: but when I speak, they {are} for war. {for peace: or, a man of peace}

Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war. {of late: Heb. yesterday} {with the: Heb. over against a}

And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead {him} away safely.

And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. {the wicked: Heb. wickedness}