Abner therefore sent messengers to David for himself, saying: Whose is the land? And that they should say: Make a league with me, and my hand shall be with thee: and I will bring all Israel to thee.
But I as yet am tender, though anointed king: and these men the sons of Sarvia are too hard for me. The Lord reward him that doth evil according to his wickedness.
And David said to Abner: Art not thou a man? And who is like thee in Israel? Why then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? For there came one of the people in to kill the king thy lord.