1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
3And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
5And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
6In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
