The Holy Bible 2 Samuel 3:1-39 by Robert Alter Lyrics

And the fighting between the house of Saul and the house of David went on a long time, and David grew stronger and the house of Saul weaker and weaker. And sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite. And the second was Chileab, by Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And the third was Absalom son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. And the fourth was Adonijah son of Haggith. And the fifth was Shephatiah son of Abital. And the sixth was Ithream, by Eglah wife of David. These were born to David in Hebron. And it happened during the fighting between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner kept growing in strength in the house of Saul. And Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, “Why did you come to bed with my father’s concubine?” And Abner was very incensed over the words of Ish-Bosheth, and he said, “Am I a dog’s head attached to Judah? Today I have kept faith with the house of Saul your father, with his kinsmen and his companions, in not handing you over to David, and you dare reproach me with guilt over the woman today? Thus may God do to Abner, and even more, for as the LORD has sworn to David, just so will I do for him— to transfer the kingship from the house of Saul and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah from Dan to Beersheba!” And he could say back not a word more to Abner in his fear of him. And Abner sent messengers to David in his stead, saying, “To whom should the land belong? Make a pact with me and, look, my hand will be with you to bring round to you all Israel.” And he said, “Good. I shall make a pact with you. But one thing do I ask of you, namely, you shall not see my face until you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see my face.” And David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, saying, “Give back my wife Michal, whom I betrothed with a hundred Philistine foreskins.” And Ish-Bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel son of Laish. And her husband went with her, weeping as he went after her, as far as Bahurim. And Abner said to him, “Go back!” And he went back. And Abner parlayed with the elders of Israel, saying, “Time and again in the past you sought to have David become king over you. And now, act, for the LORD has said, ‘By the hand of David My servant will I rescue My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” And Abner spoke as well in the hearing of Benjamin, and Abner went as well to speak in David’s hearing in Hebron all that was good in the eyes of Israel and in the eyes of Benjamin. And Abner came to David in Hebron, and with him were twenty men. And David made a feast for Abner and for the men who were with him. And Abner said to David, “Let me rise and go and gather to my lord the king all Israel, that they may make a pact with you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires.” And David sent Abner off, and he went in peace. And look, David’s servants and Joab had come from a raid, and abundant booty they brought with them, and Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him off, and he went in peace. And Joab and all the force that was with him had come, and they told Joab, saying, “Abner son of Ner has come to the king, and he sent him off, and he went in peace.” And Joab came to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner has come to you! Why did you send him off, and he went, going off? You know that Abner son of Ner to dupe you has come and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you do.” And Joab went out from David’s presence and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah, and David did not know. And Abner came back to Hebron, and Joab drew him aside into the gate to speak with him deceptively, and he struck him there in the belly, and he died for the blood of Asahel, Joab’s brother. And David heard afterward and said, “Innocent am I, and my kingship, before the LORD for all time of the blood of Abner son of Ner! May the blood guilt come down on the head of Joab and all his father’s house, and may there never lack in the house of Joab a sufferer of discharge from his member and running sores on his skin and a man clutching the woman’s spindle, and one falling by the sword and one wanting for bread!” And Joab and Abishai his brother had lain in wait for Abner because he put to death Asahel their brother in Gibeon in the fighting. And David said to Joab and to all the troops who were with him, “Tear your garments and gird on sackcloth and keen for Abner.” And King David was walking behind the bier. And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king raised his voice and wept over the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. And the king lamented over Abner and said, “Like the death of the base should Abner have died? Your hands—never bound, your feet never placed in fetters! As one falls before scoundrels you fell.” And all the people continued to weep over him. And all the people came to give David bread to eat while it was still day, and David swore, saying, “Thus and more may God do to me, if before the sun sets I taste bread or anything at all.” And all the people took note and it was good in their eyes, all that the king had done was good in the eyes of the people. And all the people and all Israel knew on that day that it had not been from the king to put to death Abner son of Ner. And the king said to his servants, “You must know that a commander and a great man has fallen this day in Israel. And I am gentle, and just anointed king, and these sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me. May the LORD pay back the evildoer according to his evil!”