² The victory had become an occasion for the army to mourn, because on that very day the troops heard the announcement, “The king is grieving for his son!” ³ So men snuck into the city that day like men do who are ashamed after they’ve run away from a battle.

⁴ Meanwhile, the king veiled his face and kept on crying loudly, “My son Absalom! Absalom my son, my son!”