Bible in Basic English
"May God's punishment be on Abner, if I do not for David as the Lord in his oath has said,"
— 2 Samuel 3:9, Bible in Basic English
“God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him; ”
Now while there was war between Saul's people and David's people, Abner was making himself strong among the supporters of Saul.
Now Saul had among his wives a woman named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Why have you taken my father's wife?
And Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, Am I a dog's head of Judah? I am this day doing all in my power for the cause of your father Saul and for his brothers and his friends, and have not given you up into the hands of David, and now you say I have done wrong with a woman.
May God's punishment be on Abner, if I do not for David as the Lord in his oath has said,
And if I do not take away the kingdom from the family of Saul and make David ruler over Israel and Judah from Dan as far as Beer-sheba!
And so great was Ish-bosheth's fear of Abner that he was not able to say a word in answer.
And Abner sent men to David at Hebron, saying, Make an agreement with me, and I will give you my support in getting all Israel on your side.