is day I will not have thee bear
tidings, because the king's son is dead.

18:21. And Joab said to Chusai: Go, and tell the king what thou hast
seen. Chusai bowed down to Joab, and ran.

18:22. Then Achimaas the son of Sadoc said to Joab again: Why might not
I also run after Chusai? And Joab said to him: Why wilt thou run, my
son? thou wilt not be the bearer of good tidings.

18:23. He answered: But what if I run? And he said to him: Run. Then
Achimaas running by a nearer way passed Chusai.

18:24. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman that was on
the top of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man
running alone.

18:25. And crying out he told the king: and the king said: If he be
alone, there are good tidings in his mouth. And as he was coming apace,
and drawing nearer,

18:26. The watchman saw another man running, and crying aloud from
above, he said: I see another man running alone. And the king said: He
also is a good messenger.

18:27. And the watchman said: The running of the foremost seemeth to me
like the running of Achimaas the son of Sadoc. And the king said: He is
a good man: and cometh with good news.

18:28. And Achimaas crying out, said to the king: God save thee, O king.
And falling down before the king with his face to the ground, he said:
Blessed be the Lord thy God, who hath shut up the men that have lifted
up their hands against the lord my king.

18:29. And the king said: Is the young man Absalom safe? And Achimaas
said: I saw a great tumult, O king, when thy servant Joab sent me thy
servant: I know nothing else.

18:30. And the king said to him: Pass, and stand here.

18:31. And when he had passed, and stood still, Chusai appeared and
coming up he said: I bring good tidings, my lord, the king, for the Lord
hath judged for thee this day from the hand of all that have risen up
against thee.

18:32. And the king said to Chusai: Is the young man Absalom safe? And
Chusai answering him, said: Let the enemies of my lord, the king, and
all that rise against him unto evil, be as the young man is.

18:33. The king therefore being much moved, went up to the high chamber
over the gate, and wept. And as he went he spoke in this manner: My son
Absalom, Absalom my son: would to God that I might die for thee, Absalom
my son, my son Absalom.

Would to God... David lamented the death of Absalom, because of the
wretched state in which he died: and therefore would have be