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!