Then Joabsaidto the manwho had toldhim, "Now behold,you saw[him]! Whythen did you not strikehim thereto the ground?And I would have givenyou ten[pieces] of silverand a belt."
When a certainmansaw[it], he toldJoaband said,"Behold,I sawAbsalomhangingin an oak."
The mansaidto Joab,"Even ifI should receivea thousand[pieces of] silverin my hand,I would not putout my handagainstthe king'sson;for in our hearingthe kingchargedyou and Abishaiand Ittai,saying,Protectfor me the youngmanAbsalom!'
"Sayto Amasa,'Are you not my boneand my flesh?May Goddosoto me, and morealso,ifyou will not be commanderof the armybeforeme continuallyin placeof Joab.'"
For the enemyhas persecutedmy soul;He has crushedmy lifeto the ground;He has made me dwellin darkplaces,like those who have longbeen dead.
Soare the waysof everyonewho gainsby violence;It takesaway the lifeof its possessors.
