2 Samuel 16

1 Now when David was a little past the top, look, Ziba the servant of Mippibaal met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and on them two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a container of wine.

And when David was passed a little beyond the top [of the mount], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth came toward him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and a hundred [cakes] of dried figs, and a bottle of wine.

2 And the king said to Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" And Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert."

And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou with these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and the dried figs for the young men to eat; and the wine to drink for such as may be faint in the wilderness.

3 Then the king said, "Where is your master's son?" Ziba said to the king, "Look, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the children of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my father.'"

And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he remaineth at Jerusalem; for he said, Today will the house of Israel restore unto me the kingdom of my father.

4 Then the king said to Ziba, "Look, all that pertains to Mippibaal is yours." Ziba said, "I humbly bow. May I find favor in the sight of my lord the king."

Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine shall be all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I prostrate myself; let me but find grace in thy eyes, my Lord, O king.

5 And when king David reached Bahurim, now look, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera. He came out and cursed continuously as he approached.

And when King David came as far as Bachurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shim'i, the son of Gera, coming forth, and cursing.

6 And he threw stones at David and at all his servants, and all the people and all the soldiers at his right hand and at his left.

And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right and on his left.

7 And Shimei said as he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, and worthless man.

And thus said Shim'i as he cursed, Away, away, thou man of blood, and thou worthless man!

8 The LORD has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. And look, your evil is upon you, because you are a man of bloodshed."

The Lord hath brought back upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou didst reign; and the Lord hath placed the kingdom into the hand of Abshalom thy son; and, behold, thou art now in thy misfortune, because a man of blood art thou.

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please let me go over and take off his head."

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruyah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and remove his head.

10 The king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? Because he curses, and because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David;' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'"

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruyah? so let him curse; because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son who came from my body seeks my life. So also now this Benjamite. Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to.

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who hath come forth out of my own body, seeketh my life: how much more now this Benjamite? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath said it to him.

12 Perhaps the LORD will look on my affliction and return good to me for his cursing today."

Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction, and the Lord will requite me good instead of his cursing this day.

13 So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him, and cursed as he went, threw stones at his flank, and threw dirt.

And David and his men went [thus] on the way. And Shim'i went on the side of the mount opposite to him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones toward him, and cast dust.

14 Now the king and all his people arrived weary at the Jordan, and he refreshed himself there.

And the king, and all the people that were with him, arrived weary, and refreshed themselves there.

15 Now Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.

And Abshalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Achithophel [also] with him.

16 And it came about when David's friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king. Long live the king."

And it came to pass, when Chushai the Arkite, David's friend, was come unto Abshalom, that Chushai said unto Abshalom, Long live the king! Long live the king!

17 So Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"

And Abshalom said to Chushai, Is this thy kindness for thy friend? why art thou not gone with thy friend?

18 Then Hushai said to Absalom, "No, but whom the LORD and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I belong, and with him I will stay.

And Chushai said unto Abshalom, No; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I remain.

19 Again, whom should I serve? Shouldn't I serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, so will I be in your presence."

And secondly, who is it whom I shall serve? is it not in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give your counsel. What should we do?"

Then said Abshalom to Achithophel, Hold counsel among yourselves as to what we shall do.

21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Go in to your father's secondary wives, that he has left to care for the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father. Then those on your side will be motivated to support you."

And Achithophel said unto Abshalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, whom he hath left to guard the house; and all Israel will hear that thou art in bad odor with thy father: and then will the hands of all that are with thee become strong.

22 So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's secondary wives in the sight of all Israel.

So they spread for Abshalom a tent upon the roof; and Abshalom went in unto his father's concubines before the eyes of all Israel.

23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one inquired of the word of God. So was all the counsel of Ahithophel both to David and to Absalom.

And the counsel of Achithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had asked advice of the word of God: so was all the counsel of Achithophel both with David and with Abshalom.