World English Bible
"Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy."
— 2 Samuel 20:20, World English Bible
“And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.”
“And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. ”
“Joab answered,“Get serious! I don’t want to swallow up or destroy anything!”
“And Joab answering said: God forbid, God forbid that I should, I do not throw down, nor destroy.”
“And Joab, answering her, said, Far, far be it from me to be a cause of death or destruction;”
“And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.”
He came near to her; and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your handmaid." He answered, "I do hear."
Then she spoke, saying, "They were used to say in old times, 'They shall surely ask counsel at Abel;' and so they settled it.
I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?"
Joab answered, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
The matter is not so. But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has lifted up his hand against the king, even against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." The woman said to Joab, "Behold, his head shall be thrown to you over the wall."
Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. He blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.
Now Joab was over all the army of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;