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16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the eiders of his household arose and tried to raise him up from the ground, but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. 18 And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us; how then shall we tell him now that the child is dead? He may react violently. 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead; therefore he said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his garments and went into the house of the LORD and worshipped; then he came to his own house and asked for food, and they set it before him and he did eat. 21 Then his servants said to him, What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you were fasting and praying, but when he was dead, you did rise up and eat food. 22 David said to them, While the child was still alive, I fasted and prayed; for I said, Who knows whether God will be gracious to me, and let the child live? 23 But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he cannot return to me. 2 Samuel 12:16-23, Lamsa Bible. Public domain.
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