³¹ Now ^(A)Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; and he went on to the Jordan with the king to ^[a]escort him over the Jordan. ³² Barzillai was very old: eighty years old; and he had ^(B)provided the king food while he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. ³³ So the king said to Barzillai, “You cross over with me, and I will provide you food in Jerusalem with me.” ³⁴ But Barzillai said to the king, “^(C)How long ^[b]do I still have to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am ^[c]now ^(D)eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Or can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Or can I still hear ^(E)the voice of men and women singing? ^(F)Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? ³⁶ Your servant would merely cross over the Jordan with the king. So why should the king compensate me with this reward? ³⁷ Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. However, here is your servant ^(G)Chimham; let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” ³⁸ And the king answered, “Chimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him what is good in your sight; and whatever you ^[d]require of me, I will do for you.” ³⁹ All the people crossed over the Jordan and the king crossed too. The king then ^(H)kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his place.

⁷ However, ^(A)show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and ^(B)let them be among those who eat at your table; ^(C)for ^[a]they assisted me when I fled from Absalom your brother.