But the man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels were weighed out into my hands, I would not lay a hand on the king’s son. In our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’

Joab said, “I’m not going to wait like this for you.” So he took three javelins in his hand and plunged them into Absalom’s heart while Absalom was still alive in the oak tree.

Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.”

And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.”

He won over the hearts of the men of Judah so that they were all of one mind. They sent word to the king, “Return, you and all your men.”

I am now eighty years old. Can I tell the difference between what is enjoyable and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats and drinks? Can I still hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

foreigners cower before me; as soon as they hear of me, they obey me.

They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds.