6
and throwing stones at David and all King David's servants; even though all the people, including his bodyguard, surrounded him right and left.
7
When Shim'i cursed, he said, "Get out of here! Get out of here, you killer, you good-for-nothing!
8
ADONAI has brought back on you all the blood of the house of Sha'ul. You usurped his kingship, but ADONAI has handed over the kingdom to Avshalom your son. Now your own evil has overtaken you, because you are a man of blood!"
9
Avishai the son of Tz'ruyah said to the king, "Why allow this dead dog to curse my lord the king? Just let me go over and remove his head!"
10
The king said, "Do you sons of Tz'ruyah and I have anything in common? Let him curse. If ADONAI tells him, 'Curse David,' who has the right to ask, 'Why are you doing it?'"
11
David then said to Avishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, who came from my own body, seeks my life. So how much more now this Binyamini! Let him alone; and let him curse, if ADONAI told him to.
12
Maybe ADONAI will notice how I'm treating him, and ADONAI will reward me with good instead of his curses."
13
So David and his men went on their way, while on the opposite hillside Shim'i kept pace with him, cursing, throwing stones and flinging dust as he went.
14
The king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so he rested there.
15
Meanwhile Avshalom and all the people, the men of Isra'el, came to Yerushalayim; Achitofel was with him.
16
Hushai the Arki, David's friend, came to Avshalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"