God's Word Translation

2 Samuel 12:19-31 God's Word Translation (GW)

19. But when David saw that his officials were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” David asked them.“⌊Yes,⌋ he is dead,” they answered.

20. So David got up from the ground, bathed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the Lord’s house and worshiped. Then he went home and asked for food. They placed food in front of him, and he ate.

21. His officials asked him, “Why are you acting this way? You fasted and cried over the child when he was alive. But as soon as the child died, you got up and ate.”

22. David answered, “As long as the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’

23. But why should I fast now that he’s dead? Can I bring him back? ⌊Someday⌋ I’ll go to him, but he won’t come back to me.”

24. Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to bed with her, and she later gave birth to a son. David named him Solomon. The Lord loved the child

25. and sent a message through the prophet Nathan to name the baby Jedidiah [The Lord’s Beloved].

26. Meanwhile, Joab fought against the Ammon ite city of Rabbah and captured its royal fortress.

27. So he sent messengers to tell David, “I fought against Rabbah and captured the fortress guarding its water supply.

28. Gather the rest of the troops, surround the city, and capture it. Otherwise, I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

29. So David gathered all the troops and went to Rabbah. He fought against the city and captured it.

30. He took the gold crown from the head of Rabbah’s king and put it on his own head. (The crown weighed 75 pounds and contained a precious stone.) David also took a lot of goods from the city.

31. He brought out the troops who were there and put them to work with saws, hoes, and axes. He did the same to all the Ammon ite cities. Then David and all the troops returned to Jerusalem.