31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn before Abner. And King David himself followed the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron, and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, Abner died the death of a fool!
34 Thy hands were not bound nor thy feet put into fetters. Thou didst fall as a man falls before wicked men. And all the people wept again over him. 35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day, David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also if I taste bread or anything else until the sun is down. 36 And all the people understood, and it pleased them, for whatever the king did pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner, the son of Ner. 38 Then the king said unto his slaves, Do ye not know that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel? 39 And I am this day a tender anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me; the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.