2 Samuel 3:27-39
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
27So when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the middle of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the belly, so that he died on account of the blood of his brother Asahel. 28Afterward, when David heard about this, he said, 'I and my kingdom are innocent before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29May it turn upon the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and may there not be eliminated from the house of Joab someone who suffers a discharge, or has leprosy, or holds the spindle, or falls by the sword, or lacks bread.' 30So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, 'Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.' And King David walked behind the bier.
32And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
34Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles; As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen.' And all the people wept over him again.
35Then all the people came to provide food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, 'May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.'
36Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it pleased them, just as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
37So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.
38Then the king said to his servants, 'Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
39And I am weak today, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.'
King James Version
28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the Lord forever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
31And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.
Christian Standard Bible
28David heard about it later and said: "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29May it hang over Joab’s head and his father’s whole family, and may the house of Joab never be without someone who has a discharge or a skin disease, or a man who can only work a spindle, or someone who falls by the sword or starves."
30Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
35Then they came to urge David to eat food while it was still day, but David took an oath: "May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!"
36All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.
New Living Translation
28When David heard about it, he declared, 'I vow by the Lord that I and my kingdom are forever innocent of this crime against Abner son of Ner.
29Joab and his family are the guilty ones. May the family of Joab be cursed in every generation with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food!'
31Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, 'Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.' And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.
32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king and all the people wept at his graveside.
34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not chained. No, you were murdered — the victim of a wicked plot.' All the people wept again for Abner.
35David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, 'May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.'
English Standard Version
Chapter 3
27And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the Lord for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father 's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!" 30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had put their brother Asahel to death in the battle at Gibeon.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.
32They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33And the king lamented for Abner, saying, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34Your hands were not bound; your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen." And all the people wept again over him.
35Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, "God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down!"
36And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
37So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king 's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
38And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"
New International Version
28Later, when David heard about this, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
29May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food."
31Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner." King David himself walked behind the bier.
32They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also.
New King James Version
28Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “My kingdom and I are guiltless before the Lord forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.
29Let it rest on the head of Joab and on all his father’s house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or is a leper, who leans on a staff or falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”
30So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.” And King David followed the coffin.
32So they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
35And 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!”
36Now all the people took note of it, and it pleased them, since whatever the king did pleased all the people.
37For 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.
38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39And 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.”