²⁹ If only I had authority over this people! I would put Abimelech out of the way, and I would say to Abimelech, Make your army strong, and come out.

⁴ And more than this, Absalom said, If only I was made judge in the land, so that every man who has any cause or question might come to me, and I would give a right decision for him!

¹⁴ And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men give a test of their strength before us. And Joab said, Let them do so.

¹⁵ So they got up and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth and twelve of the servants of David.

¹⁶ And every one got the other by the head, driving his sword into the other's side, so they all went down together: and that place was named the Field of Sides, and it is in Gibeon.

¹⁷ And there was hard fighting that day; and Abner and the men of Israel gave way before the servants of David.

¹¹ And the king of Israel said in answer, Say to him, The time for loud talk is not when a man is putting on his arms, but when he is taking them off.

⁸ Then Amaziah sent representatives to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us have a meeting face to face.

²³ And now, take a chance with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them.

³ For the evil-doer is lifted up because of the purpose of his heart, and he whose mind is fixed on wealth is turned away from the Lord, saying evil against him.

⁸ And now, take a chance with my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to put horsemen on them.

⁹ How then may you put to shame the least of my master's servants? and you have put your hope in Egypt for war-carriages and horsemen:

³⁰ Hated by God, full of pride, without respect, full of loud talk, given to evil inventions, not honouring father or mother,

³¹ Without knowledge, not true to their undertakings, unkind, having no mercy: