2 Samuel 19:28

Contemporary English Version

After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For my grandfather’s entire family deserves death from my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. So what further right do I have to keep on making appeals to the king?”

Hebrew Names Version
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?

King James Version
For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

Lexham English Bible
For there was no one in all the house of my father who were not doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. Do I have any righteousness any longer except to cry out to the king?"

English Standard Version
For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king, but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?"

New Century Version
You could have killed all my grandfather's family. Instead, you put me with those people who eat at your own table. So I don't have a right to ask anything more from the king!"

New English Translation
After all, there was no one in the entire house of my grandfather who did not deserve death from my lord the king. But instead you allowed me to eat at your own table! What further claim do I have to ask the king for anything?"

Amplified Bible
"For were not all of my father's household (family) nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have to cry out anymore to the king [for help]?"

New American Standard Bible
"For all my father's household was only people worthy of death to my lord the king; yet you placed your servant among those who ate at your own table. So what right do I still have, that I should complain anymore to the king?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
For all my fathers house were but dead men before my lord the king, yet diddest thou set thy seruant among them that did eate at thine owne table: what right therefore haue I yet to crye any more vnto the king?

Legacy Standard Bible
For all my father's household was nothing but men worthy of death before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?"

Complete Jewish Bible
But he slandered me your servant to my lord the king. However, my lord the king is like an angel of God; so do whatever seems right to you.

Darby Translation
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; and thou didst set thy servant among them that eat at thine own table. What further right therefore have I? and for what should I cry any more to the king?

Easy-to-Read Version
You could have killed all my grandfather's family, but you did not do that. Instead, you included me among the people who eat at your own table. So I don't have a right to complain to the king about anything."

George Lamsa Translation
For all of my fathers house were worthy of death before my lord the king; yet you counted your servant among those who eat at your table. Now therefore I cannot justify myself, neither speak before my lord the king.

Good News Translation
All of my father's family deserved to be put to death by Your Majesty, but you gave me the right to eat at your table. I have no right to ask for any more favors from Your Majesty."

Literal Translation
For all the house of my father would be nothing except men of death before my lord the king, and you have set your servant among those eating at your table. And what right is there to me any more, even to cry any more to the king?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For all my fathers house was nothinge, but people of death before my lorde ye kynge. And yet hast thou set thy seruaunt amonge them that eate at yi table. What other righteousnes haue I, that I shulde crye eny more vnto the kynge?

American Standard Version
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more unto the king?

Bible in Basic English
For all my father's family were only dead men before my lord the king: and still you put your servant among those whose place is at the king's table. What right then have I to say anything more to the king?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For all my fathers house were but dead men before my lorde the king, and yet diddest thou put thy seruaunt among the that dyd eate at thyne owne table: What right therefore haue I yet to crye any more vnto the king?

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thine eyes.

King James Version (1611)
For all of my fathers house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet diddest thou set thy seruant among them that did eate at thine owne table: what right therefore haue I yet to crie any more vnto the king?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For all the house of my father were but as dead men before my lord the king; yet thou hast set thy servant among them that eat at thy table: and what right have I any longer even to cry to the king?

English Revised Version
For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more unto the king?

Berean Standard Bible
For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For the hows of my fadir was not no but gilti of deeth to my lord the kyng; sotheli thou hast set me thi seruaunt among the gestis of thi boord; what therfor haue Y of iust pleynt, ether what may Y more crye to the kyng?

Young's Literal Translation
for all the house of my father have been nothing except men of death before my lord the king, and thou dost set thy servant among those eating at thy table, and what right have I any more -- even to cry any more unto the king?'

Update Bible Version
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your slave among those that ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry anymore to the king?

Webster's Bible Translation
For all [of] my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that ate at thy own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more to the king?

World English Bible
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more to the king?

New King James Version
For all my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?"

New Living Translation
All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?"

New Life Bible
For all those of my father's house were nothing but dead men in front of my lord the king. But you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have to complain any more to the king?"

New Revised Standard
For all my father's house were doomed to death before my lord the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, when all the house of my father were nothing better than dead men, unto my lord the king, then didst thou set thy servant among them that used to eat at thy table, - what then have I further, by way of right, or to cry out any further unto the king?

Douay-Rheims Bible
For all of my father’s house were no better than worthy of death before my lord the king; and thou hast set me thy servant among the guests of thy table: what just complaint therefore have I? or what right to cry any more to the king?

Revised Standard Version
For all my father's house were but men doomed to death before my lord the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to cry to the king?"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For all my father's household was nothing but dead men before my lord the king; yet you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have yet that I should complain anymore to the king?"

Contextual Overview

²⁴ Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes the whole time David was gone. ²⁵ After they had gone back to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth came to see David, who asked him, "Why didn't you go with me?" ²⁶ He answered, "Your Majesty, you know I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me so I could go with you. But my servant left without me, and ²⁷ then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right. ²⁸ After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?" ²⁹ David answered, "You've said enough! I've decided to divide the property between you and Ziba." ³⁰ Mephibosheth replied, "He can have it all! I'm just glad you've come home safely."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

were: Genesis 32:10

dead men: Heb. men of death, 1 Samuel 26:16

didst thou: 2 Samuel 9:7, 2 Samuel 9:8, 2 Samuel 9:10, 2 Samuel 9:13

to cry: 2 Kings 8:3

Reciprocal: Ruth 2:10 - Why have 1 Samuel 20:31 - shall surely die 1 Kings 2:7 - eat Job 2:10 - shall we receive Proverbs 27:10 - own Luke 22:30 - eat

Cross-References

Genesis 19:10
But the two angels in the house reached out and pulled Lot safely inside.

Genesis 19:11
Then they struck everyone in the crowd blind, and none of them could even find the door.

Psalms 107:34
flowing streams into scorched land, and fruitful fields into beds of salt.

2 Peter 2:7
Lot lived right and was greatly troubled by the terrible way those wicked people were living. He was a good man, and day after day he suffered because of the evil things he saw and heard. So the Lord rescued him.

Jude 1:7
We should also be warned by what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the nearby towns. Their people became immoral and did all sorts of sexual sins. Then God made an example of them and punished them with eternal fire.

Revelation 9:2
As it opened the tunnel, smoke poured out like the smoke of a great furnace. The sun and the air turned dark because of the smoke.

Revelation 18:9
Every king on earth who slept with her and shared in her luxury will mourn. They will weep, when they see the smoke from that fire.

Revelation 18:18
When they saw the smoke from her fire, they shouted, "This was the greatest city ever!"

Revelation 19:3
Then the crowd shouted, "Praise the Lord! Smoke will never stop rising from her burning body."

Revelation 21:8
But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulfur. This is the second death.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For all [of] my, father's house were but dead men before my lord the king,.... Or "men of death" m; worthy of death, not on account of Saul's persecution, for which his family did not deserve to suffer; rather for the attempt of Ishbosheth to get the kingdom from him, which might be deemed treason, and so the family was tainted for it; though the sense may be only this, that their lives lay at his mercy, and that if he had dealt with rigour and severity towards them, as was usual for princes to do towards the family of their predecessors, who had any claim to the kingdom, put them to death, this would have been their case:

yet didst thou set thy servant among them that eat at thine own table; which was showing him great kindness, and doing him great honour:

what right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king? to ask any favour of him, or make any complaint to him.

m אנשי מות "viris mortis", Montanus.