2 Samuel 15:4

2 He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,”

3 Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.”

And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”

5 Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him.

6 Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.”
KJV
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
WEB
Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”
ASV
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
DARBY
And Absalom said, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any controversy and cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!
BLB
And Absalom would say, “Who will make me judge in the land, and to me would come every man who has to him a grievance or dispute, and I would give him justice!”
ÅB
Så sa Absalom: Bare de ville sette meg til dommer i landet! Da skulle hver mann som hadde en trette eller sak, komme til meg, og jeg skulle hjelpe ham til sin rett.
OTB
Og Absalom sa, "Å, om jeg var utpekt til dommer i landet, da skulle enhver som hadde en sak eller grunn komme til meg, og jeg ville gi ham rettferdighet."
B1930
Så sa Absalom: Bare de vilde sette mig til dommer i landet! Da skulde hver mann som hadde en trette eller sak, komme til mig, og jeg skulde hjelpe ham til sin rett.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Judges 9:29

    If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”

    Read in context
  • Luke 14:8–11

    “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.

    Read in context
  • 2 Peter 2:19

    They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 27:2

    Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 25:6

    Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;

    Read in context
  • Judges 9:1–5

    Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,

    Read in context