18 19 Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, 'Let me run and take the news to the king that the LORD has avenged him and delivered him from his enemies.' 18 20 But Joab replied, 'This is no day for you to be the bearer of news. Another day you may have news to carry, but not today, because the king's son is dead.' 18 21 Joab told a Cushite to go and report to the king what he had seen. The Cushite bowed low before Joab and set off running. 18 22 Ahimaaz pleaded again with Joab, 'Come what may,' he said, 'let me run after the Cushite.' 'Why should you, my son?' asked Joab. 'You will get no reward for your news.' 18 23 'Come what may,' he said, 'I will run.' 'Go, then', said Joab. So Ahimaaz ran by the road through the Plain of the Jordan and outstripped the Cushite.
18 24 David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gatehouse by the wall and, looking out, saw a man running alone. 18 25 The watchman called to the king and told him. 'If he is alone,' said the king, 'then he has news.' The man came nearer and nearer. 18 26 Then the watchman saw another man running. He called down to the gate-keeper and said, 'Look, there is another man running alone.' The king said, 'He too brings news.' 18 27 The watchman said, 'I see by the way he runs that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.' The king said, 'He is a good fellow and shall earn the reward for good news.'
18 28 Ahimaaz called out to the king, 'All is well!' He bowed low before him and said, 'Blessed be the LORD your God who has given into your hands the men who rebelled against your majesty.' 18 29 The king asked, 'Is all well with the young man Absalom ?' Ahimaaz answered, 'Sir, your servant Joab sent me Sir ... sent me: prob. rdg, Heb At the sending of Joab the king's servant and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I did not know what had happened.' 18 30 The king told him to stand on one side; so he turned aside and stood there.
18 31 Then the Cushite came in and said, 'Good news, your majesty! The LORD has avenged you this day on all those who rebelled against you.' 18 32 The king said to the Cushite, 'Is all well with the young man Absalom?' The Cushite answered, 'May all the king's enemies and all rebels who would do you harm be as that young man is.' 18 33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the roof-chamber over the gate and wept, crying out as he went, 'O, my son! Absalom my son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.'