When David heard

General information

Source of text: 2 Samuel 18:33. Also see David's Lamentation (William Billings) and Absalon, fili mi for settings of the equivalent text in Latin.

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Michael East — When David heard that Absolom was slain  English SSATTB
• John Milton the elder — When David heard that Absalom was slain  English SSATB,AATBB
• Robert Ramsey — When David heard  English SSTTBB
• Thomas Tomkins — When David heard  English SAATB, ATTBB
• Thomas Weelkes — When David heard  English SSAATB,SSATTB

Text and translations

English text When David heard that Absalom was slain He went up into his chamber over the gate and wept, and thus he said: my son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!

German translation Als David hörte, dass Absalom erschlagen war, ging er auf sein Zimmer über dem Tor und weinte. Und dann sprach er: O Absalom mein Sohn, hätte Gott mich an deiner Statt sterben lassen!

Russian translation

Когда Давид услышал, что Авессалом убит,
он пошел в горницу над воротами, и плакал,
и говорил так: сын мой, сын мой Авессалом! о, кто дал бы мне умереть вместо тебя!