The battle in the wood
David mustered the men with him and appointed commanders over thousands and hundreds. He sent out one third under Joab, one third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told them, I'm coming out with you as well. But the men said, No. If we have to retreat, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care. You're worth ten thousand of us, so you'll be more help to us by staying in the city. The king answered, I'll do whatever you think is best. He stood beside the gate while the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands. The king ordered Joab, Abishai and Ittai, For my sake, go easy on the young man Absalom. All the troops heard the king give each commander that order about Absalom. David's army marched into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim. The Israelites were defeated there by David's men, and twenty thousand men were killed that day. The fighting spread across the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword did. Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding a mule, and as the mule passed under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head became caught in the tree. He was left hanging between heaven and earth while the mule kept going. One of the men saw him and reported to Joab, I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree. Joab said, You saw him? Why didn't you strike him down on the spot? I'd have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt. The man answered, Even if I had a thousand shekels of silver in my hands, I wouldn't raise a hand against the king's son. We all heard the king order you, Abishai and Ittai, Protect the young man Absalom for my sake. If I'd betrayed his life, nothing would have stayed hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood back and left me to it. Joab said, I'm not wasting any more time with you. He took three spears and drove them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the oak. Then ten young men who carried Joab's armour surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him. Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel. Joab called them off. They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile all Israel fled to their homes. During his lifetime Absalom had set up a pillar for himself in the King's Valley. He said, I have no son to keep my name alive. He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.
And David counted the people with him and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent out a third of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people: I'll definitely go out with you myself too. But the people answered: You won't go out. Because if we run, they won't care about us. And if half of us die, they won't care about us. But now you're worth ten thousand of us. So it's better that you help us now out of the town. And the king said to them: I'll do what seems best to you. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai: Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains the order about Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the wood of Ephraim, where the people of Israel were struck down in front of the servants of David. And there was a great killing that day of twenty thousand men. Because the battle was spread out over the face of all the country. And the wood ate up more people that day than the sword ate up. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak. And his head caught hold of the oak, and he was left hanging between the sky and the earth. And the mule under him went on. And a certain man saw it and told Joab: Look — I saw Absalom hanging in an oak. And Joab said to the man who told him: And look — you saw him. And why didn't you strike him there to the ground? And I'd have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt. And the man said to Joab: Though I should get a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, still I wouldn't put out my hand against the king's son. Because in our hearing the king ordered you and Abishai and Ittai: Watch that nobody touches the young man Absalom. Otherwise I'd have worked falsehood against my own life. Because nothing is hidden from the king, and you'd have set yourself against me. Then Joab said: I won't wait like this with you. And he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the middle of the oak. And ten young men who carried Joab's armour went round and struck Absalom and killed him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people came back from chasing Israel. Because Joab held the people back. And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones on him. And all Israel ran every one to his tent. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. Because he said: I've got no son to keep my name in memory. And he called the pillar by his own name. And it's called Absalom's Monument right to this day.
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also. But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city. And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands. And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom. So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men. For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured. And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak. And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom. Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me. Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent. Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
David mustered the men with him and appointed commanders over thousands and hundreds.
And David counted the people with him and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
He sent out one third under Joab, one third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told them, I'm coming out with you as well.
And David sent out a third of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third under the hand of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the people: I'll definitely go out with you myself too.
And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
But the men said, No. If we have to retreat, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care. You're worth ten thousand of us, so you'll be more help to us by staying in the city.
But the people answered: You won't go out. Because if we run, they won't care about us. And if half of us die, they won't care about us. But now you're worth ten thousand of us. So it's better that you help us now out of the town.
But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
The king answered, I'll do whatever you think is best. He stood beside the gate while the troops marched out by hundreds and thousands.
And the king said to them: I'll do what seems best to you. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
The king ordered Joab, Abishai and Ittai, For my sake, go easy on the young man Absalom. All the troops heard the king give each commander that order about Absalom.
And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai: Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains the order about Absalom.
And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
David's army marched into the field against Israel, and the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
So the people went out into the field against Israel. And the battle was in the wood of Ephraim,
So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
The Israelites were defeated there by David's men, and twenty thousand men were killed that day.
where the people of Israel were struck down in front of the servants of David. And there was a great killing that day of twenty thousand men.
Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
The fighting spread across the whole countryside, and the forest claimed more lives that day than the sword did.
Because the battle was spread out over the face of all the country. And the wood ate up more people that day than the sword ate up.
For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
Absalom happened to meet David's men. He was riding a mule, and as the mule passed under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom's head became caught in the tree. He was left hanging between heaven and earth while the mule kept going.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode on a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak. And his head caught hold of the oak, and he was left hanging between the sky and the earth. And the mule under him went on.
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
One of the men saw him and reported to Joab, I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree.
And a certain man saw it and told Joab: Look — I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
Joab said, You saw him? Why didn't you strike him down on the spot? I'd have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.
And Joab said to the man who told him: And look — you saw him. And why didn't you strike him there to the ground? And I'd have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt.
And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
The man answered, Even if I had a thousand shekels of silver in my hands, I wouldn't raise a hand against the king's son. We all heard the king order you, Abishai and Ittai, Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.
And the man said to Joab: Though I should get a thousand shekels of silver in my hand, still I wouldn't put out my hand against the king's son. Because in our hearing the king ordered you and Abishai and Ittai: Watch that nobody touches the young man Absalom.
And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king’s son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
If I'd betrayed his life, nothing would have stayed hidden from the king, and you yourself would have stood back and left me to it.
Otherwise I'd have worked falsehood against my own life. Because nothing is hidden from the king, and you'd have set yourself against me.
Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
Joab said, I'm not wasting any more time with you. He took three spears and drove them into Absalom's heart while he was still alive in the oak.
Then Joab said: I won't wait like this with you. And he took three darts in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the middle of the oak.
Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
Then ten young men who carried Joab's armour surrounded Absalom, struck him and killed him.
And ten young men who carried Joab's armour went round and struck Absalom and killed him.
And ten young men that bare Joab’s armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
Joab blew the trumpet, and the troops stopped pursuing Israel. Joab called them off.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people came back from chasing Israel. Because Joab held the people back.
And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile all Israel fled to their homes.
And they took Absalom and threw him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones on him. And all Israel ran every one to his tent.
And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
During his lifetime Absalom had set up a pillar for himself in the King's Valley. He said, I have no son to keep my name alive. He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself, which is in the King's Valley. Because he said: I've got no son to keep my name in memory. And he called the pillar by his own name. And it's called Absalom's Monument right to this day.
Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.
The news comes to David
Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, Let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies. Joab told him, Not today. You'll carry news another day, but not today, because the king's son is dead. Then Joab told a Cushite, Go and tell the king what you've seen. The man bowed to Joab and ran. Ahimaaz son of Zadok asked Joab again, Whatever happens, please let me run after the Cushite too. Joab said, Why are you so keen to run, son? There's no reward in this news for you. Ahimaaz said, Whatever happens, let me run. Joab replied, All right, run. So Ahimaaz took the road through the plain and overtook the Cushite. David was sitting between the inner and outer gates. The watchman climbed to the roof above the gateway and looked out. He saw a man running alone. The watchman called down to the king. The king said, If he's alone, he must be bringing news. The runner kept coming closer. Then the watchman saw another man running and called to the gatekeeper, There's another man running on his own. The king said, He must be bringing news too. The watchman said, The first runner looks like Ahimaaz son of Zadok. The king said, He's a good man. He'll be bringing good news. Ahimaaz called out to the king, All is well. He bowed face down before the king and said, Blessed be the Lord your God, who has handed over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king. The king asked, Is the young man Absalom all right? Ahimaaz replied, When Joab sent the king's servant and me, I saw a great commotion, but I didn't know what it was about. The king said, Step aside and wait there. So Ahimaaz stood aside. Then the Cushite arrived and said, Good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has delivered you from everyone who rose against you. The king asked, Is the young man Absalom all right? The Cushite answered, May all the enemies of my lord the king, and everyone who rises against you to harm you, end up like that young man. The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went he cried, My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you. Absalom, my son, my son!
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said: Let me run now and take the king news, how the Lord has paid him back from the hand of the ones against him. And Joab said to him: You won't take news today, but you'll take news another day. But today you won't take news, because the king's son is dead. Then Joab said to Cushi: Go, tell the king what you've seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab and ran. Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab: But whatever happens, let me run too after Cushi, please. And Joab said: Why do you want to run, my son, seeing you've got no news ready? But whatever happens, he said, let me run. And he said to him: Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and got past Cushi. And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate onto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked. And there was a man running on his own. And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said: If he's on his own, there's news in his mouth. And he came on quickly and came near. And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gatekeeper: Look — there's another man running on his own. And the king said: He brings news too. And the watchman said: I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok. And the king said: He's a good man and comes with good news. And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king: All is well. And he fell down to the earth on his face in front of the king and said: Blessed be the Lord your God, who's handed over the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said: Is the young man Absalom all right? And Ahimaaz answered: When Joab sent the king's servant, and me your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I didn't know what it was. And the king said to him: Turn aside and stand here. And he turned aside and stood still. And there was Cushi coming. And Cushi said: News, my lord king. Because the Lord has paid you back today from the hand of everyone who got up against you. And the king said to Cushi: Is the young man Absalom all right? And Cushi answered: May the ones against my lord the king, and everyone who gets up against you to hurt you, be like that young man. And the king was badly troubled and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he went he said: My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. If only I'd died for you, Absalom, my son, my son.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings. And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!
Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, Let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has delivered him from his enemies.
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said: Let me run now and take the king news, how the Lord has paid him back from the hand of the ones against him.
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.
Joab told him, Not today. You'll carry news another day, but not today, because the king's son is dead.
And Joab said to him: You won't take news today, but you'll take news another day. But today you won't take news, because the king's son is dead.
And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
Then Joab told a Cushite, Go and tell the king what you've seen. The man bowed to Joab and ran.
Then Joab said to Cushi: Go, tell the king what you've seen. And Cushi bowed himself to Joab and ran.
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
Ahimaaz son of Zadok asked Joab again, Whatever happens, please let me run after the Cushite too. Joab said, Why are you so keen to run, son? There's no reward in this news for you.
Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab: But whatever happens, let me run too after Cushi, please. And Joab said: Why do you want to run, my son, seeing you've got no news ready?
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
Ahimaaz said, Whatever happens, let me run. Joab replied, All right, run. So Ahimaaz took the road through the plain and overtook the Cushite.
But whatever happens, he said, let me run. And he said to him: Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and got past Cushi.
But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
David was sitting between the inner and outer gates. The watchman climbed to the roof above the gateway and looked out. He saw a man running alone.
And David sat between the two gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate onto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked. And there was a man running on his own.
And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
The watchman called down to the king. The king said, If he's alone, he must be bringing news. The runner kept coming closer.
And the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said: If he's on his own, there's news in his mouth. And he came on quickly and came near.
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
Then the watchman saw another man running and called to the gatekeeper, There's another man running on his own. The king said, He must be bringing news too.
And the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gatekeeper: Look — there's another man running on his own. And the king said: He brings news too.
And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
The watchman said, The first runner looks like Ahimaaz son of Zadok. The king said, He's a good man. He'll be bringing good news.
And the watchman said: I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok. And the king said: He's a good man and comes with good news.
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
Ahimaaz called out to the king, All is well. He bowed face down before the king and said, Blessed be the Lord your God, who has handed over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.
And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king: All is well. And he fell down to the earth on his face in front of the king and said: Blessed be the Lord your God, who's handed over the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
The king asked, Is the young man Absalom all right? Ahimaaz replied, When Joab sent the king's servant and me, I saw a great commotion, but I didn't know what it was about.
And the king said: Is the young man Absalom all right? And Ahimaaz answered: When Joab sent the king's servant, and me your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I didn't know what it was.
And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
The king said, Step aside and wait there. So Ahimaaz stood aside.
And the king said to him: Turn aside and stand here. And he turned aside and stood still.
And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
Then the Cushite arrived and said, Good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has delivered you from everyone who rose against you.
And there was Cushi coming. And Cushi said: News, my lord king. Because the Lord has paid you back today from the hand of everyone who got up against you.
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
The king asked, Is the young man Absalom all right? The Cushite answered, May all the enemies of my lord the king, and everyone who rises against you to harm you, end up like that young man.
And the king said to Cushi: Is the young man Absalom all right? And Cushi answered: May the ones against my lord the king, and everyone who gets up against you to hurt you, be like that young man.
And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went he cried, My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you. Absalom, my son, my son!
And the king was badly troubled and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he went he said: My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom. If only I'd died for you, Absalom, my son, my son.
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!