Now Joabthe sonof Zeruiahperceivedthat the king'sheart[was inclined] towardAbsalom.
[The heart of] KingDavidlongedto goout to Absalom;for he was comfortedconcerningAmnon,sincehe was dead.
So Joabsentto Tekoaand broughta wisewomanfrom thereand saidto her, "Pleasepretendto be a mourner,and puton mourninggarmentsnow,and do not anointyourself with oil,but be like a womanwho has been mourningfor the deadmanydays;
The kingwas deeplymovedand wentup to the chamberoverthe gateand wept.And thushe saidas he walked,"O my sonAbsalom,my son,my sonAbsalom!WouldI had diedinsteadof you, O Absalom,my son,my son!"
The victorythat daywas turnedto mourningfor allthe people,for the peopleheard[it] saidthat day,"The kingis grievedfor his son."
The kingcoveredhis faceand criedout with a loudvoice,"O my sonAbsalom,O Absalom,my son,my son!"
Now the threesonsof Zeruiahwere there,Joaband Abishaiand Asahel;and Asahel[was] [as] swift-footedas oneof the gazelleswhichis in the field.
and their sisters[were] Zeruiahand Abigail.And the threesonsof Zeruiah[were] Abshai,Joaband Asahel.
Manyseekthe ruler'sfavor,But justicefor man[comes] from the LORD.