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22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, |Whatever happens, please let me go after the Cushite.| But Joab said, |Why do you want to run, my son, since you will have no reward for the news?| 23 But he said, |But whatever happens, I will run.| So he said to him, |Run.| Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. 24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall and raised his eyes and looked, and there was a man running alone towards him. 25 Then the watchman shouted and informed the king. And the king said, |If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.| And he kept coming nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running. And the watchman above the gate called out, and said, |Look, another man running alone.| And the king said, |He also brings good news.| 27 Then the watchman said, |I think the first runner is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.| And the king said, |He is a good man, and comes with good news.| 28 And Ahimaaz came near and said to the king, |All is well.| Then he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, |Blessed is the LORD your God, who has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king.| 29 And the king asked, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?| And Ahimaaz answered, |When Joab, the king's servant, sent your servant off, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.| 30 Then the king said, |Step aside and stand here.| So he stepped aside and waited. 31 Then look, the Cushite arrived, and he said, |Good news for my lord the king, for the LORD has delivered you today from all those who rose up against you.| 32 Then the king asked the Cushite, |Is it well with the young man Absalom?| And the Cushite replied, |May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you with evil intent be like that young man.| 33 And the king was shaken, and went up to the room over the gate and wept. And as he wept he said, “My son Absalom. My son, my son Absalom. If only I had died in your place, Absalom, my son, my son.| 2 Samuel 18:22-33, New Heart English Bible. Public domain.
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