But if He says thus: ‘I have no delight in you,’ here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
Parallel translations
- WEB but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
- KJV But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
- BSB But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.”
- NASB But if He says this: ‘I have no delight in you,’ then here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him.”
- NLT But if he is through with me, then let him do what seems best to him.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David submits to God's will, even if the Lord no longer delights in him. His surrender shows profound trust amid judgment.
Overview
David declares his readiness to accept whatever God decides, whether restoration or rejection. This is the language of repentant faith, bowing to divine sovereignty even in chastisement. David's submissive "let him do to me as seems good to him" anticipates the greater submission of Christ in Gethsemane, "not my will, but yours" (Luke 22:42).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Sam 3:18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
- 2 Sam 22:20He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
- 1 Kgs 10:9Blessed is Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, therefore he made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
- Num 14:8If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us; a land which flows with milk and honey.
- 2 Chr 9:8Blessed be Yahweh your God, who delighted in you, to set you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God; because your God loved Israel, to establish them forever. Therefore made he you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”
- Isa 62:4You will not be called Forsaken any more; nor will your land be called Desolate any more: but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land will be married.
- Jer 32:41Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”
- Ps 39:9I was mute. I didn’t open my mouth, because you did it.
- Matt 1:10Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah.
- Isa 42:1“Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights — I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.
- Job 1:20–21Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped.
- Judg 10:15The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”
- Jer 22:28Is this man Coniah a despised broken vessel? Is he a vessel in which no one delights? Why are they cast out, he and his offspring, and cast into a land which they don’t know?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 15:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.