- Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
- And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
- Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
- I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?
- And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
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- Then a wise woman called from the city, "Hear, hear! Please tell Joab, 'Come here that I may speak with you.'"
- So he approached her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" And he answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening."
- Then she spoke, saying, "Formerly they used to say, 'They will surely ask advice at Abel,' and thus they ended the dispute.
- "I am of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You are seeking to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"
- Joab replied, "Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy!
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