New Revised Standard Version
Today I am powerless, even though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me. The LORD pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!”

Contemporary English Version
I am the chosen king, but Joab and Abishai have more power than I do. So God will have to pay them back for the evil thing they did."

New American Bible
Although I am the anointed king, I am weak this day, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too ruthless for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer in accordance with his evil deed.”

Douay-Rheims Bible
But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.

But I as yet am tender, though anointed king. And these men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me: the Lord reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.

I am

Exodus 21:12 He that striketh a man with a will to kill him, shall be put to death.

2 Chronicles 19:6,7 And charging the judges, he said: Take heed what you do: for you exercise not the judgment of man, but of the Lord: and whatsoever you judge, it shall redound to you. . . .

Psalm 75:10 And I will break all the horns of sinners: but the horns of the just shall be exalted.

Psalm 101:8 In the morning I put to death all the wicked of the land: that I might cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the Lord.

Proverbs 20:8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.

Proverbs 25:5 Take away wickedness from the face of the king, and his throne shall be established with justice.

weak [heb] tender

1 Chronicles 22:5 And David said: Solomon my son is very young and tender, and the house which I would have to be built to the Lord, must be such as to be renowned in all countries: therefore I will prepare him necessaries. And therefore before his death he prepared all the charges.

Isaiah 7:4 And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of Romelia.

Romans 13:4 For he is God's minister to thee, for good. But if thou do that which is evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword in vain. For he is God's minister: an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.

the sons

1 Chronicles 2:15,16 The sixth Asom, the seventh David. . . .

too hard

2 Samuel 19:6,7,13 Thou lovest them that hate thee, and thou hatest them that love thee: and thou hast shewn this day that thou carest not for thy nobles, nor for thy servants: and I now plainly perceive that if Absalom had lived, and all we had been slain, then it would have pleased thee. . . .

the Lord

1 Kings 2:5,6,33,34 Thou knowest also what Joab, the son of Sarvia, hath done to me, what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether: whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. . . .

Psalm 7:16 His sorrow shall be turned on his own head: and his iniquity shall come down upon his crown.

Psalm 28:4 Give them according to their works, and according to the wickedness of their inventions. According to the works of their hands give thou to them: render to them their reward.

Psalm 62:12 And mercy to thee, O Lord; for thou wilt render to every man according to his works.

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith hath done me much evil: the Lord will reward him according to his works: