33
And the king sang a lament over Abner and said: "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34
Your hands were not bound Nor your feet put into fetters; As a man falls before wicked men, so you fell." Then all the people wept over him again.
35
And when all the people came to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, David took an oath, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!"
36
Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's intent to kill Abner the son of Ner.
38
Then the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39
And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too harsh for me. The Lord shall repay the evildoer according to his wickedness."