Absalom

1And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.

Someone told Joab, "The king is crying. He is very sad about 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.

The army had won the battle that day. But everyone felt sad instead of glad. They heard that the king was grieving 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.

The soldiers crept quietly into the city that day. They acted ashamed, like men who run away from a fight.

4But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

But the king covered his face. He cried out loudly, "My son Absalom! 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;

Joab came into the house to the king. He said, "Today you shamed all the men who serve you. They saved your life today. They saved your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your other wives.

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.

You love the people who hate you. You hate the people who love you. Today you showed that your leaders and soldiers mean nothing to you. Now I see it. If Absalom were alive and all of us dead, you would be glad.

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.

So get up now. Go outside and speak kindly to your men. I promise before the LORD, if you stay inside, not one man will be with you tonight. That would be worse for you than every bad thing since you were young."

8Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

So the king got up and sat in the city gate. People told everyone, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate." Then all the people came to him. The soldiers who had followed Absalom had run home.