2 Samuel 18:33-19:4

Contemporary English Version

David Cries for Absalom

³³ David started trembling. Then he went up to the room above the city gate to cry. As he went, he kept saying, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I could have died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!”^[a]

19 Someone told Joab, “The king is crying because Absalom is dead.”

² David's army found out he was crying because his son had died, and their day of victory suddenly turned into a day of sadness. ³ The troops were sneaking into Mahanaim, just as if they had run away from a battle and were ashamed.

⁴ David covered his face with his hands and kept on crying loudly, “My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”