4. The king said to Ziba, “Look, all that was Mephibosheth’s is yours.” Ziba said, “I hereby do obeisance; may I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”
5. King David came up to Bahurim and suddenly a man from there was coming out from the family of the house of Saul, and his name was Shimei the son of Gera. He was cursing as he came out.
6. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David and at all the people and at all the mighty warriors on his right and on his left.
7. Shimei said while cursing him, “Go out, go out, you man of bloodshed, you man of wickedness.
8. Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the household of Saul whom you have supplanted as king, and Yahweh has given the kingship into the hand of Absalom your son. Look, you are in disaster for you are a man of blood.”
9. Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head.”
10. The king said, “What do we have in common, sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because Yahweh has said to him ‘Curse David,’ who can say, “Why have you done this?”
11. David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son who came out of my loins is seeking my life. Now as far as this Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him.
12. Perhaps Yahweh will look in my eye and repay good for me in place of his curse this day.
13. Then David and his men went on the road, with Shimei going on the side of the hill beside him, cursing as he went. He threw stones beside him and threw dust in the air.
14. When the king and all of the people who were with him arrived, he was weary, so he recovered there.
15. Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, had come to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16. When Hushai the Arkite the friend of David came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king, long live the king!”
17. Absalom said to Hushai, “This is your loyal love with your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”
18. Then Hushai said to Absalom, “No, rather, whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, to him I will be, and with him I will remain.
19. Furthermore, for whom have I served? Is it not in the presence of his son that I have served before your father? So shall I serve you!”
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What shall we do?”
21. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go to the concubines of your father whom he left behind to watch over the house, then all of Israel will hear that you made yourself odious to your father, and all of your followers will be motivated!”