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.
37
So on that day all the people there and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
38 And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
38
Then the king said to his men, “Do you not realize that a commander and a great man has fallen in Israel this day?
39 And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.
39
And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!”