2 Samuel 19:35 “I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not?…”

2 Samuel 19:35

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?

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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?

World English Bible

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?

American Standard Version

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?

Geneva Bible 1599

I am this day fourescore yeere olde: and can I discerne betweene good or euill? Hath thy seruant any taste in that I eat or in that I drinke? Can I heare any more the voyce of singing men and women? wherefore then should thy seruant be anymore a burthen vnto my lord the king?

Darby Translation

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?

Young's Literal Translation

A son of eighty years I [am] to-day; do I know between good and evil? doth thy servant taste that which I am eating, and that which I drink? do I hearken any more to the voice of singers and songstresses? and why is thy servant any more for a burden unto my lord the king?

Bible in Basic English

I am now eighty years old: good and bad are the same to me; have meat and drink any taste for me now? am I able to take pleasure in the voices of men or women in song? why then am I to be a trouble to my lord the king?

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Cross references

“can I discern”

Job 6:30 Job 12:11 Hebrews 5:14 1 Peter 2:3

Job 6:30 · BSB

Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?

Job 12:11 · BSB

Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?

Hebrews 5:14 · BSB

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

1 Peter 2:3 · BSB

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

“taste”

Ecclesiastes 12:1–5

Ecclesiastes 12:1–5 · BSB

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”

“I hear”

Ezra 2:65 Nehemiah 7:67 Exodus 2:8 Exodus 12:4

Ezra 2:65 · BSB

in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 200 male and female singers.

Nehemiah 7:67 · BSB

in addition to their 7,337 menservants and maidservants, as well as their 245 male and female singers.

Exodus 2:8 · BSB

“Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother.

Exodus 12:4 · BSB

If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.

“a burden”

2 Samuel 15:33 2 Samuel 13:25

2 Samuel 15:33 · BSB

David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.

2 Samuel 13:25 · BSB

“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing.

Also

Psalm 90:10 Ecclesiastes 2:8 Isaiah 5:11–12

Psalm 90:10 · BSB

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.

Ecclesiastes 2:8 · BSB

and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

Isaiah 5:11–12 · BSB

Woe to those who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger into the evening, to be inflamed by wine.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

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

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

Read 2 Samuel 19