1. The king was shaken. So he went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. As he walked he cried, “My son Absalom! O my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!”
2. Then Joab was told, “Look, the king is weeping and mourning over Absalom!”
3. So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops, for the troops heard it said that day, “The king is grieving over his son.”
4. So the troops entered into the city stealthily that day, like troops who are ashamed after running away in battle.
5. The king covered his face and cried with a loud voice, “My son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
6. Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your servants—who this day have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, and the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines—