2 Samuel 18:25-33 ▼

25 The watchman called and alerted the king. |If he's alone,| the king said, |he has good news to tell.| The runner continued to come closer.

26 When the watchman saw another man running, the watchman called, |There's [another] man running alone.| The king said, |This one is also bringing good news.|

27 The watchman said, |It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz, Zadok's son.| |He's a good man,| the king said. |He must be coming with good news.|

28 Then Ahimaaz came up to the king, greeted him, and bowed down in front of him. Ahimaaz said, |May the LORD your God be praised. He has handed over the men who rebelled against Your Majesty.|

29 |Is the young man Absalom alright?| the king asked. Ahimaaz answered, |I saw a lot of confusion when Joab sent me away, but I didn't know what it meant.|

30 |Step aside, and stand here,| the king said. He stepped aside and stood there.

31 Then the Sudanese messenger came. |Good news for Your Majesty!| he said. |Today the LORD has freed you from all who turned against you.|

32 |Is the young man Absalom alright?| the king asked. The Sudanese messenger answered, |May your enemies and all who turned against you be like that young man!|

33 The king was shaken [by the news]. He went to the room above the gate and cried. |My son Absalom!| he said as he went. |My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!|