8
The Lord has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you; for you are a man of blood."
9
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
10
But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, "Curse David,' who then shall say, "Why have you done so?' "
11
David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord has bidden him.
12
It may be that the Lord will look on my distress, and the Lord will repay me with good for this cursing of me today."
13
So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust at him.
14
The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.
15
Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem; Ahithophel was with him.
16
When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17
Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
18
Hushai said to Absalom, "No; but the one whom the Lord and this people and all the Israelites have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.