[和合本] 王向使者说：“你告诉约押说：‘不要因这事愁闷，刀剑或吞灭这人或吞灭那人，没有一定的，你只管竭力攻城，将城倾覆。’可以用这话勉励约押。”
[新标点] 王向使者说：“你告诉约押说：‘不要因这事愁闷，刀剑或吞灭这人或吞灭那人，没有一定的；你只管竭力攻城，将城倾覆。’可以用这话勉励约押。”
[和合修] 大卫向使者说：“你对约押这样说：‘不要为这事难过，因为刀剑可能吞灭这人或那人。你只管竭力攻城，将城倾覆。’你要勉励约押。”
[新译本] 大卫对那使者说：“你要对约押这样说：‘不要为这件事难过，因为刀剑有时吞灭这人，有时吞灭那人。你只要加紧攻打这城，把城毁灭。’你要这样鼓励他。”
[当代修] 大卫便对信使说：“你去告诉约押不要为这事难过，因为刀剑无情。让他只管竭力攻陷城池。要这样勉励约押。”
[现代修] 大卫对使者说：“你回去鼓励约押，叫他不要难过，因为战场上谁死谁活是不可预料的。鼓励他，要集中力量攻城，把它倾覆了。”
[吕振中] 王对使者说：“你告诉约押说：‘你看了这事不要难受，因为刀剑吞灭这人或那人是没有一定的；你只加强战力攻城，将城翻毁好啦；’你总要使约押的意志刚强。”
[思高本] 达味向报信的人说：“你去告诉约阿布说：不必对这事过于伤心，因为刀剑有时砍这人，也有时砍那人；你只管加紧攻城，将城毁灭。你要鼓励他！”
[文理本] 大卫谓使者曰、尔其语约押曰、毋以此为忧、刃之吞人、或彼或此、当益奋厥力、攻城而毁之、以此勉励约押、
[GNT] David said to the messenger, "Encourage Joab and tell him not to be upset, since you never can tell who will die in battle. Tell him to launch a stronger attack on the city and capture it."
[BBE] Then David said to the man, Go and say to Joab, Do not let this be a grief to you; for one man may come to his death by the sword like another: put up an even stronger fight against the town, and take it: and do you put heart into him.
[KJV] Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.
[NKJV] Then David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.' So encourage him."
[KJ21] Then David said unto the messenger, "Thus shalt thou say unto Joab: `Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another. Press thy battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it'; and encourage thou him."
[NASB] Then David said to the messenger, "This is what you shall say to Joab: 'Do not let this thing (Lit be evil in your sight)displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; (Lit seize your battle against)fight with determination against the city and overthrow it'; and thereby encourage him."
[NRSV] David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city, and overthrow it.' And encourage him."
[WEB] Then David said to the messenger, "Tell Joab, 'Don't let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle stronger against the city, and overthrow it.' Encourage him."
[ESV] David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.' And encourage him."
[NIV] David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this upset you; the sword devours one as well as another. Press the attack against the city and destroy it.' Say this to encourage Joab."
[NIrV] David told the messenger, "Tell Joab, 'Don't get upset over what happened. Swords kill one person as well as another. So keep on attacking the city. Destroy it.' Tell that to Joab. It will cheer him up."
[HCSB] David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.' Encourage him."
[CSB] David told the messenger, "Say this to Joab: 'Don't let this matter upset you because the sword devours all alike. Intensify your fight against the city and demolish it.' Encourage him."
[AMP] Then David said to the messenger, Say to Joab, Let not this thing disturb you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack upon the city and overthrow it. And encourage Joab.
[NLT] "Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged," David said. "The sword devours this one today and that one tomorrow! Fight harder next time, and conquer the city!"
[YLT] And David saith unto the messenger, 'Thus dost thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing be evil in thine eyes; for thus and thus doth the sword devour; strengthen thy warfare against the city, and throw it down -- and strengthen thou him.'