And the king covered his head, and cried with a loud voice: O my son Absalom, O Absalom my son, O my son.

and the king hath covered his face, yea, the king crieth, a loud voice, 'My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son.'

But the king, covering his face, gave a great cry, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!

And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice: 'O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! '

And the king covered his head, and he was crying out in a great voice: "My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!"

The king covered his face - This was the custom of mourners.
O my son Absalom - Calmet has properly remarked that the frequent repetition of the name of the defunct, is common in the language of lamentation. Thus Virgil, act. v., ver. 51: -
- Daphnin que team tollemus ad astra;
Daphnin ad astra feremus: amavit nos quoque Daphnis.
"With yours, my song I cheerfully shall join,
To raise your Daphnis to the powers Divine.
Daphnis I'll raise unto the powers above,
For dear to me was Daphnis' well tried love."
See the notes on the preceding chapter, 2 Samuel 18 (note).

But the king (a) covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
(a) As they do that mourn.

But the king covered his face,.... And would not see his generals, and thank them for their services: but wrapped himself in his mantle, after the manner of mourners:
and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son! and this was some time, perhaps some days after he had received the news of his death, since Joab and the army were returned from the battle; had it been a sudden start of passion, upon first hearing thee news, and had continued a few hours, it would have been more excusable; but to continue some days, as it is very probable it did, was very unbecoming.

the king covered his face--one of the usual signs of mourning (see on 2-Samuel 15:30).

But the king had covered his face, and cried aloud, "My son Absalom," etc.