They took their bones, buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.

So David intoned this song of lament about Saul and his son Jonathan, and he gave orders to teach the descendants of Judah the art of warfare, as is recorded in the Book of Jashar: read more. "Your beauty, Israel, lies slain on your high places! O, how the valiant have fallen! Don't make it known in Gath! Don't declare it in the avenues of Ashkelon! Otherwise, the daughters of Philistia will rejoice; and the daughters of the uncircumcised will triumph. Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain fall on you, and may none of your fields be filled with plenty, because in that place the shield of the valiant ones was defiled, the shield of Saul without an anointing with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the blood of the valiant, Jonathan's bow would not retreat nor would Saul's sword return empty. Saul and Jonathan, loved and handsome in life, in death were not separated. Swifter than eagles they were, and more valiant than lions. Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul! He clothed you in scarlet luxury and decorated your garments with gold. How have the valiant fallen in the tumult of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am in distress for you, my brother Jonathan. You have been most kind to me. Your love for me was extraordinary beyond love from women. How the valiant have fallen! How the weapons of war are destroyed!"

David ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." King David walked behind the funeral procession,

The king composed this mourning song for Abner: "Should Abner's death be like a fool's? Your hands were not bound, nor were your feet in irons. As one falls before the wicked, you have fallen."

At this, David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the LORD's tent to worship. Then he went back to his palace where, at his request, they served him food and he ate.

He buried the corpse in his own grave and his family mourned for him, crying out, "Oh, no! My brother!"

and exclaimed: "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

When Job's three friends heard all these tragedies that happened to him, they each traveled from their home towns to visit him. Eliphaz came from Teman, Bildad came from Shuah, and Zophar came from Naamath. They met together and went to console and comfort him. Observing him from a distance, at first they didn't even recognize him, so they raised their voices and burst into tears. They each ripped their robes, threw ashes into the air on their heads, read more. and sat with Job on the ground for a full week without saying a word, since they could see the great extent of his anguish.

I remain silent; I do not open my mouth, for you are the one who acted.

For people will be beating their breasts in mourning over the pleasant fields, over the fruitful vines,

"Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, for then I would cry day and night for those of my people who have been killed.

This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Think about what I'm saying! Indeed, call out the professional mourners! Send for the best of them to come. Let them hurry and lament for us. Let tears run down from our eyes, and let our eyelids flow with water.

Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Josiah's son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, "They won't lament for him with these words: "How terrible, my brother, How terrible, my sister!' They won't lament for him with these words: "How terrible, lord, How terrible, your majesty!'

Because of all this, I weep; my eyes stream with tears because far from me is the comforter of my soul. My children are sorrowful, because the enemy has won.

My eyes run with rivers of tears over the destruction of my cherished people. My tears pour down ceaselessly; I am far from relief

Then he brought me to the entrance of the gate to the LORD's Temple, which faced the north. That's where I saw women seated, weeping for Tammuz.

When your ships' captains cry out, the pasturelands along the coast will cry out! Everyone who handles an oar will abandon ship, they'll head straight for dry land, read more. and they will cry so loud you won't be able to make yourself heard! How bitterly they'll cry! They'll throw dust on their heads and wallow in ashes. They'll shave their heads bald because of you. They'll dress themselves in sackcloth and weep for you with deep bitterness of heart, with the most pitiful of mourning. In the depth of their despair they'll compose a lament for you. This is what they'll say: "Who is like Tyre? Who is so silent in the midst of the sea?' Your merchandise went out over the oceans to satisfy many nations; with the abundance of your wealth you enriched the kings of the earth. "But now it's your time to be wrecked at the bottom of the sea! Your products and your workers have sunk, and so have you! Everyone who lives by the sea is appalled at your destruction. Their leaders are terrified their faces reflect their fears! Traders circulate among the people, hissing at you. What a horror you've become! Now you will cease to exist forever and ever!"

Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of the Heavenly Armies, the Lord, says: "There will be dirges in all of the streets; and in all of the highways they will cry out in anguish. They will call the farmer to mourning and those who lament to grieve.

"Therefore I will cry out and grieve loudly; I will walk around stripped and naked. I will cry out like a jackal and mourn like a company of ostriches.

"Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites, because they put on sad faces to show others they are fasting. I tell all of you with certainty, they have their full reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, read more. so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who is in the hidden place. And your Father who watches from the hidden place will reward you."

When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw mass confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly.

Rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Cry with those who are crying.

So then, encourage one another with these words.

because the lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."