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2 Samuel 3:31-39
Legacy Standard Bible
2 Samuel 3:31-39
Legacy Standard Bible
David’s Lament for Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “(A)Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 Thus they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at (B)the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 (C)And the king chanted a lament for Abner and said,
“Should Abner die as a wicked fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in fetters;
As one falls before the [a]unrighteous, you have fallen.”
And all the people continued to weep over him. 35 Then all the people came (D)to [b]persuade David to eat bread while it was still day; but David swore an oath, saying, “(E)May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else (F)before the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of it, and it was good in their sight, just as everything the king did was good in the sight of all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel knew that day that it had not been the will of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 Thus I am (G)weak today, though anointed king; and these men (H)the sons of Zeruiah are too difficult for me. (I)May Yahweh repay the evildoer according to his evil.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 3:34 Lit sons of unrighteousness
- 2 Samuel 3:35 Lit cause
2 Samuel 3:31-39
New International Version
2 Samuel 3:31-39
New International Version
31 Then 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. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept(C) aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
33 The 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.
35 Then 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!”
36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So 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.
38 Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen(I) in Israel this day? 39 And 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!”
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