13. Kwafika umbiki kuDavide, wathi: “Izinhliziyo zabantu bakwa-Israyeli zilandela u-Abisalomu.”
14. UDavide wayesethi ezincekwini zakhe zonke ezazinaye eJerusalema: “Sukani, sibaleke, ngokuba, uma singenzi njalo, akuyikuphunyuka muntu kithi phambi kuka-Abisalomu; sheshani, nimuke, funa asifice masinyane, asehlisele okubi, awuchithe umuzi ngosiko lwenkemba.”
15. Izinceku zenkosi zathi enkosini: “Noma yintoni engayikhetha inkosi yethu, inkosi bheka, nazi izinceku zakho.”
16. Yayisiphuma inkosi, bonke abendlu bayo beyilandela. Inkosi yashiya abesifazane abayishumi abayizancinza ukuba balinde indlu.
17. Yaphuma-ke inkosi, bonke abantu beyilandela; bahlala eBeti Hamerhaki.
18. Zonke izinceku zadlula eceleni kwakhe kanye nawo onke amaKhereti nawo onke amaPheleti; nawo onke amaGiti, abantu abangamakhulu ayisithupha, ayeyilandela esuka eGati, adlula phambi kwenkosi.
19. Inkosi yayisithi ku-Ithayi umGiti: “Nawe uhambelani nathi na? Buya uhlale nenkosi, ngokuba ungumfokazi nomxoshwa endaweni yakho.
20. Ufikile izolo nje; ngikuzulazulise nathi yini namuhla, ngisahamba lapho ngiya khona, na? Buya wena, ubuyise nabafowenu; umusa neqiniso makube nawe.”
21. U-Ithayi wayiphendula inkosi, wathi: “Kuphila kukaJehova nokuphila kwenkosi yami, inkosi, impela kuleyo ndawo eyakuba kuyo inkosi yami, inkosi, noma kusekufeni noma kusekuphileni, lapho iyakuba khona nenceku yakho.”
22. UDavide wathi ku-Ithayi: “Hamba, uwele.” U-Ithayi umGiti wawela kanye nabo bonke abantu bakhe nazo zonke izingane ezazinaye.
23. Izwe lonke lakhala ngezwi elikhulu, nabantu bonke bawela; nenkosi futhi yawela umfudlana iKidroni, nabantu bonke bawela ngasendleleni yasehlane.
24. Bheka, kwafika noSadoki nawo onke amaLevi enaye, ethwele umphongolo wesivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu; abeka phansi umphongolo kaNkulunkulu, u-Abiyathara wenyuka, baze baphuma bonke abantu emzini.
25. Inkosi yathi kuSadoki: “Buyisela emzini umphongolo kaNkulunkulu; uma ngiyakufumana umusa emehlweni kaJehova, uyakungibuyisa, angibonise wona nendlu yawo;
26. kepha uma esho kanje, ethi: ‘Angithokozi ngawe,’ bheka, ngilapha, makenze kimi okuhle emehlweni akhe.”