2 Kings 15:4
O that they would make me judge over the land, that all that have business might come to me, that I might do them justice.
Open 2 Kings 15:4 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Quis me constituat judicem super terram, ut ad me veniant omnes qui habent negotium, et juste judicem ?
- Septuagint (Swete)
- καὶ εἶπεν Ἀβεσσαλώμ Τίς με καταστήσει κριτὴν ἐν τῇ γῇ, καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ ἐλεύσεται πᾶς ἀνὴρ ᾧ ἐὰν ᾖ ἀντιλογία καὶ κρίσις καὶ δικαιώσω αὐτόν;
- Hebrew (WLC)
- וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַבְשָׁל֔וֹם מִי יְשִׂמֵ֥נִי שֹׁפֵ֖ט בָּאָ֑רֶץ וְעָלַ֗י יָב֥וֹא כָּל אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶֽׁר יִהְיֶה לּוֹ רִ֥יב וּמִשְׁפָּ֖ט וְהִצְדַּקְתִּֽיו
The Fathers on this verse
St Ambrose On the Duties of the Clergy, Chapter XXII. We must observe a right standard between too great mildness and excessive harshness. They who endeavour to creep into the hearts of others by a false show of mildness gain nothing substantial or lasting. This the example of Absalom plainly enough shows
114. Absalom was King David’s son, known for his beauty, of splendid appearance and in the heyday of youth; so that no other such man as he was found in Israel. He was without a blemish from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. He had for himself a chariot and horses and fifty men to run before him. He rose at early dawn and stood before the gate in the way, and whoever he knew to be seeking the judgment of the king, he called to himself, saying: “From what city art thou?” And he answered: “I thy servant am of one of the tribes of Israel.” And Absalom answered: “Thy words are good and right. Is there none given thee by the king to hear thee? Who will make me a judge? And whosoever will come unto me, that hath need of judgment, I will give him justice.” With such words he cajoled them. …