NET Bible
"The woman said,“Why have you devised something like this against God’s people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished."
— 2 Samuel 14:13, NET Bible
“And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.”
“And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished one. ”
“The woman said, "Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in speaking this word the king is as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring home again his banished one.”
“And the woman said: Why hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God, and why hath the king spoken this word, to sin, and not bring home again his own exile?”
“And the woman said, Why have you had such a thought about the people of God? (for in saying these very words the king has put himself in the wrong because he has not taken back the one whom he sent far away.)”
“And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.”
The king said,“Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won’t bother you again!”
She replied,“In that case, let the king invoke the name of the LORD your God so that the avenger of blood may not add to the killing! Then they will not destroy my son!” He replied,“As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”
Then the woman said,“Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.” He replied,“Tell me.”
The woman said,“Why have you devised something like this against God’s people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished.
Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored.
I have now come to speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have made me fearful. But your servant said,‘I will speak to the king! Perhaps the king will do what his female servant asks.
Yes! The king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us!’