⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!^(A) This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed^(B) you^(C) king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

³⁷ Absalom fled and went to Talmai^(A) son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But King David mourned many days for his son.

³⁸ After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years.

⁴⁰ While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

“That is your sentence,”^(A) the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

⁴¹ Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. ⁴² He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You^(B) have set free a man I had determined should die.^[a](C) Therefore it is your life for his life,^(D) your people for his people.’”