1. And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weeps and mourns for Absalom.
2. And the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king is grieved for his son.
3. And the people stole away that day into the city, as people steal away when ashamed of fleeing in battle.
4. And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, My son Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!
5. And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast put to shame this day the faces of all thy servants who have this day saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives and the lives of thy concubines;
6. in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest those that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that neither princes nor servants are anything to thee: for to-day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died to-day, then it would have been right in thine eyes.
7. But now arise, go forth, and speak consolingly to thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night; and that would be worse to thee than all the evil that has befallen thee from thy youth until now.