The people regretted what had happened to Benjamin because the Lord had weakened the Israelite tribes.

The king longed to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.

I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I lived like a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.

Their insults are painful and make me lose heart; I look for sympathy, but receive none, for comforters, but find none.

Show me evidence of your favor! Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, for you, O Lord, will help me and comfort me.

The Lord makes this promise on oath and will not revoke it: “You are an eternal priest after the pattern of Melchizedek.”

Therefore, the sovereign Lord who commands armies, the powerful ruler of Israel, says this: “Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies.

At that time you will say: “I praise you, O Lord, for even though you were angry with me, your anger subsided, and you consoled me.

These double disasters confronted you. But who feels sorry for you? Destruction and devastation, famine and sword. But who consoles you?

In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the Lord consoles his people; he protects Jerusalem.

“O afflicted one, driven away, and unconsoled! Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony and I lay your foundation with lapis-lazuli.

to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn,

so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them.

Who knows? Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, and leave blessing in his wake – a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God!

The Lord decided not to do this. The sovereign Lord said, “This will not happen either.”

Who knows? Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die.”

David said, “I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal to me.” So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father’s death. When David’s servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king’s sympathy,

So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

Certainly the Lord will console Zion; he will console all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the Garden of the Lord. Happiness and joy will be restored to her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.

He named him Noah, saying, “This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the Lord has cursed.”