2 Samuel 3:31-39

English Standard Version

David Mourns Abner

³¹Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, ^(A)“Tear your clothes and ^(B)put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. ³²They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. ³³And the king ^(C)lamented for Abner, saying,

^(D)“Should Abner die ^(E)as a fool dies?
³⁴Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen.”

And all the people wept again over him. ³⁵Then all the people came ^(F)to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, ^(G)“God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else ^(H)till the sun goes down!” ³⁶And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people. ³⁷So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner. ³⁸And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? ³⁹And I was gentle today, though anointed king. ^(I)These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. ^(J)The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”

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2 Samuel 3:31-39

New Living Translation

David Mourns Abner’s Death

³¹Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave. ³²They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside. ³³Then the king sang this funeral song for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as fools die?
³⁴Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not chained.
No, you were murdered—
the victim of a wicked plot.”

All the people wept again for Abner. ³⁵David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.”

³⁶This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! ³⁷So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder.

³⁸Then King David said to his officials, “Don’t you realize that a great commander has fallen today in Israel? ³⁹And even though I am the anointed king, these two sons of Zeruiah—Joab and Abishai—are too strong for me to control. So may the Lord repay these evil men for their evil deeds.”

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2 Samuel 3:31-39

New International Version

³¹Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth^(A) and walk in mourning^(B) in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. ³²They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept^(C) aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.

³³The king sang this lament^(D) for Abner:

“Should Abner have died as the lawless die?
³⁴ Your hands were not bound,
your feet were not fettered.^(E)
You fell as one falls before the wicked.”

And all the people wept over him again.

³⁵Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,^(F) if I taste bread^(G) or anything else before the sun sets!”

³⁶All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. ³⁷So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part^(H) in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

³⁸Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen^(I) in Israel this day? ³⁹And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah^(J) are too strong^(K) for me.^(L) May the Lord repay^(M) the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”