26. and the watchman saw another man running and called down to the gatekeeper, "There’s another man running alone."The king said, "That one must be bringing good news too."
27. The watchman said, "I can see that the first one runs like Zadok’s son Ahimaaz.""He’s a good man," the king said, "and is coming with good news."
28. Ahimaaz called out to the king, "Peace!" then bowed low before the king, his nose to the ground. He said, "Bless the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my master the king."
29. The king said, "Is my boy Absalom okay?"Ahimaaz said, "I saw a large crowd right when Joab, the king’s servant, sent your servant off, but I don’t know what it was about."
30. "Step aside and stand right here," the king said. So Ahimaaz stepped aside and waited.
31. Then the Cushite arrived and said, "My master the king: Listen to this good news! The Lord has vindicated you this day against the power of all who rose up against you."
32. The king said to the Cushite, "Is my boy Absalom okay?"The Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my master the king and all who rise up against you to hurt you end up like that young man."
33. The king trembled. He went up to the room over the gate and cried. As he went, he said, "Oh, my son Absalom! Oh, my son! My son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! Oh, Absalom, my son! My son!"