1. Kwesi sithuba uJowabhi unyana kaZeruya waphawula ukuba ukumkani uDavide wayeselenxubile kukukhumbula uAbhasalom.
2. Wathumela abantu eTokowa, ukuya kulanda khona mfazi uthile wayeliqhajazana elilumkileyo. Akuba efikile wathi kuye uJowabhi: “Ndifuna uzenze umntu ozilileyo, unxibe iimpahla zokuzila, ungathambisi, ube ngathi kudala wafelwayo,
3. uze uye kukumkani, ufike umxelele le nto ndifuna uyithethe kuye.” Watsho emnika amazwi amakawathethe kukumkani.
4. Waya ke kukumkani loo mfazi waseTekowa, wafika wawa ngamadolo, ekhahlela, wathi: “Ndincede, mhlekazi!”
5. Ukumkani wathi kuye: “Ngaba ukhathazwa yintoni?”Uthe ukuphendula loo mfazi: “Mhlekazi, ndingumhlolokazi; ndibhujelwe yindoda.
6. Yaye bendinoonyana ababini. Ngenye imini baxabana besemadlelweni, kwathi ngenxa yokuba kwakungekho mlamli, balwa wabethwa wafa omnye unyana wam.
7. Ngoku ke, mhlekazi, abantu basemzini wam bonke bandivukele besithi: ‘Mnikezele lo ubulele umntakwabo, khon' ukuze sibuyekeze ukufa komntakwabo lo ambuleleyo, kungabi sabakho ndlalifa.’ Ewe, bafuna ukuyicima igama impunde ebesendijonge ukuba yiyo eya kuvusa igama likayise, ivuse nomzi wakowayo.”
8. “Kulungile, ungagoduka, ndiza kunika umyalelo ngokubhekiselele kuwo lo mcimbi,” utshilo ukumkani kuloo mfazi.
9. “Mhlekazi, nkosi yam, mayibe ndim kunye nabantu bakowethu abathwele ityala ngale nto; yena ukumkani kunye nolawulo lwakhe makabe msulwa,” uqokele watsho loo mfazi waseTekowa.
10. Ukumkani wathi: “Umntu ophinde wakuthethisa uze uze naye apha kum; akasobe aphinde akuthi cha kwakhona.”