Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.

I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan! You were very dear to me. Your love was more special to me than the love of women.

He said: “The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.

You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.

You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.

He asked me, ‘Who are you?’ I told him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me.

The Lord repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.

The Lord rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.

The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.

However, if he should say, ‘I do not take pleasure in you,’ then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.”

Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you reaches me.”

Perhaps the Lord will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.”

Joab answered, “Get serious! I don’t want to swallow up or destroy anything!

In my distress I called to the Lord; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.

But David said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t you realize that today I am king over Israel?”

“Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?

I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings.

Joab said, “If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue.

Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?”