1. UJowabe indodana kaSeruya wayeseqonda ukuthi inhliziyo yenkosi iku-Abisalomu.
2. UJowabe wayesethumela eThekhowa, walanda khona owesifazane ohlakaniphileyo, wathi kuye: “Ake uzishaye olilayo, ugqoke izingubo zokulila, ungazigcobi ngamafutha, kepha ube njengowesifazane oselilele ofileyo izinsuku eziningi,
3. ungene enkosini, ukhulume kuyo ngalendlela.” UJowabe wayesemfunza amazwi emlonyeni wakhe.
4. Lapho owesifazane waseThekhowa ekhuluma enkosini, wawa ngobuso emhlabathini, wakhuleka, wathi: “Siza, nkosi.”
5. Inkosi yathi kuye: “Unani na?”Wathi: “Maye, ngingumfelokazi! Indoda yami seyafa.
6. Incekukazi yakho yayinamadodana amabili; alwa odwa endle, akwabakho muntu wokulamula, kepha enye yashaya enye, yayibulala.
7. Bheka, umndeni wonke usuvukele incekukazi yakho; bathi: ‘Sinike yena owashaya umfowabo ukuba simbulale ngenxa yomphefumulo womfowabo, sichithe indlalifa.’ Bayakucima kanjalo ilahle lami eliseleyo, bangabe besashiyela indoda yami igama nensali ebusweni bomhlaba.”
8. Inkosi yayisithi kowesifazane: “Yiya endlini yakho; mina ngiyakuyaleza ngawe.”