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 matterdistressedAbrahamgreatlybecauseof his son.
Now Joabthe sonof Zeruiahperceivedthat the king'sheart[was inclined] towardAbsalom.
Then it was toldJoab,"Behold,the kingis weepingand mournsfor Absalom."
The kingcoveredhis faceand criedout with a loudvoice,"O my sonAbsalom,O Absalom,my son,my son!"
Just as a fatherhascompassionon [his] children,So the LORDhascompassionon those who fearHim.
"But now,ifYou will, forgivetheir sin--and ifnot, pleaseblotme out from Your bookwhichYou have written!"
The proverbsof Solomon.A wisesonmakesa fatherglad,But a foolishsonis a griefto his mother.
A foolishsonis a griefto his fatherAnd bitternessto her who borehim.
For I could wishthat I myselfwere accursed,[separated] from Christfor the sakeof my brethren,my kinsmenaccordingto the flesh,
Elijahwas a manwith a nature likeours,and he prayedearnestlythat it would not rain,and it did not rainon the earthfor threeyearsand sixmonths.
