2 Samuel 19:27

²⁵ And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

²⁶ “My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,

and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

²⁸ 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?”

²⁹ The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.
KJV: 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.
WEB: He has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And he has slandered thy servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God; do therefore what is good in thy sight.
BLB: And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. And my lord the king [is] like the angel of God; and do [what is] good in your eyes.

ÅB: Og han baktalte din tjener for min herre kongen. Men min herre kongen er som en Guds engel; gjør derfor som du synes.
OTB: Og han har baktalt din tjener for min herre kongen. Men min herre kongen er som Guds engel; gjør derfor det som synes godt for deg.
B1930: Og han baktalte din tjener for min herre kongen. Men min herre kongen er som en Guds engel; gjør derfor som du synes.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 14:17
And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’”
Read in context
2 Samuel 14:20
Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 29:9
Achish replied, “I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
Read in context
2 Samuel 16:3
“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’”
Read in context
Jeremiah 9:4
“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.
Read in context
Psalms 15:3
who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,
Read in context
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Read in context
Psalms 101:5
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
Read in context