2 Samuel 19:35

Old age Contentment Exhaustion Sickness and healing

³³ The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”

³⁴ But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

³⁶ Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?

³⁷ Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”

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

Compare

BSB: I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?
KJV: I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
WEB: I am eighty years old, today. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear the voice of singing men and singing women any more? Why then should your servant be a burden to my lord the king?
ASV: I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
DARBY: I am this day eighty years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat and what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? and why should thy servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?
BLB: I [am] a son of eighty years today. Can I discern between good and evil? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singers and songstresses? Why should be your servant add a burden to my lord the king?

ÅB: Jeg er idag åtti år; kan jeg vel nå skjelne mellom godt og ondt, eller kan din tjener smake hva jeg spiser og drikker, eller kan jeg nå lenger høre på sangere og sangerinner? Hvorfor skulle da din tjener lenger være min herre kongen til byrde?
OTB: Jeg er i dag åtti år gammel. Kan jeg skjelne mellom godt og ondt? Kan din tjener smake hva han spiser eller hva han drikker? Kan jeg fortsatt høre stemmen til syngende menn og syngende kvinner? Hvorfor skulle da din tjener være en byrde for min herre kongen?
B1930: Jeg er idag åtti år; kan jeg vel nu skjelne mellem godt og ondt, eller kan din tjener smake hvad jeg eter og drikker, eller kan jeg nu lenger høre på sangere og sangerinner? Hvorfor skulde da din tjener lenger være min herre kongen til byrde?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 15:33
David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.
Read in context
Ezra 2:65
in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers.
Read in context
Psalms 90:10
The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty if we are strong— yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Read in context
Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.
Read in context
Job 6:30
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
Read in context
Isaiah 5:11–12
Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.
Read in context
Job 12:11
Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
Read in context
Exodus 2:8
“Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.
Read in context