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
Revised Standard Version
31 Then David said to Jo′ab and to all the people who were with him, “Rend your clothes, and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner at Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 And the king lamented for Abner, saying,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your 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. 35 Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, “God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!” 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as everything that the king did pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king’s will to slay Abner the son of Ner. 38 And the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; these men the sons of Zeru′iah are too hard for me. The Lord requite the evildoer according to his wickedness!”
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