18. Kwesi sithuba ukumkani uphendule lo mfazi wathi: “Ndinombuzo endinawo; uze ungakhe ulinge undifihlele impendulo.”“Mhlekazi, ungandibuza nantoni na,” utshilo loo mfazi.
19. Ukumkani wathi: “Asikho na isandla sikaJowabhi kule nto?”Umfazi waphendula wathi: “Ngenene, ukho nje, mhlekazi nkosi yam, uchane ucwethe; okuthethileyo kunjalo; ewe, liphakathi lakho uJowabhi lo undihlohle la mazwi.
20. Kambe le nto isicaka sakho uJowabhi uyenze ngeenjongo zokulungisa. Hayi, ndincamile, mhlekazi; ulwazi lwakho lufana nolwesithunywa sikaThixo, sona sazi konke okwenzekayo elizweni.”
21. Emva koko ke ukumkani uDavide ubhekise kuJowabhi wathi: “Kulungile ke, ndiya kukhululela; hamba uye kumlanda laa mfana uAbhasalom.”
22. Waziphosa phantsi ke uJowabhi ekhahlela, edomboza ebulela ukumkani, wenjenje: “Ngoku isicaka sakho siyazi ukuba uyakholiseka siso, mhlekazi nkosi yam, kuba undenzele isicelo sam.”
23. Wasuka ke uJowabhi wenjenjeya ukusinga eGeshuri, esiya kulanda uAbhasalom, weza naye eJerusalem.