⁴ Then the officials said to the king, ^(A)“Let this man be put to death, ^(B)for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking ^(C)the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

^7 (A)And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news ^(B)that it is coming. ^(C)Every heart will melt, and ^(D)all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and ^(E)all knees will be weak as water. ^(F)Behold, it is ^(G)coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord God.

Ish-bosheth Murdered

4 When Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner had died at Hebron, ^(A)his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed.

^17 (A)All hands are feeble, and all knees turn to water.