8. The Lord has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. Behold, the calamity is upon you because you are a bloody man!
9. Then said [David's nephew] Abishai son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.
10. The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, Curse David, who then shall ask, Why have you done so?
11. And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who was born to me, seeks my life. With how much more reason now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone; and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him to do it.
12. It may be that the Lord will look on the iniquity done me and will recompense me with good for his cursing this day.
13. So David and his men went by the road, and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.
14. And the king and all the people who were with him came [to the Jordan] weary, and he refreshed himself there.
15. And Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16. And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to [him], Long live the king! Long live the king!
17. Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness and loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?
18. Hushai said to Absalom, No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him I will remain.
19. And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so will I serve you.
20. Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your counsel. What shall we do?
21. And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made strong.
22. So they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the [king's] house, and Absalom went in to his father's harem in the sight of all Israel.