¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying^(A) in sackcloth^[a] on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused,^(B) and he would not eat any food with them.^(C)

²¹ His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept,^(A) but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows?^(B) The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’^(C)