9. Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “How can this dead dog curse my lord the king! Let me go over and remove his head.”
10. The king responded, “What do you have against me, sons of Zeruiah? Suppose that he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who shall then say, ‘Why do you do so?’ ”
11. David then said to Abishai and to all of his servants, “My son who came from my own body seeks my life, and now also this Benjamite. Leave him alone and let him curse if the Lord has so instructed him.
12. Perhaps today the Lord will look upon my guilt and return kindness instead of his cursing.”
13. So David and his men continued on the road, and Shimei went along on the hillside beside them, cursing, throwing stones, and flinging dust at them as he went.
14. The king and all of the people who were with him arrived at their destination exhausted, but he refreshed himself there.
15. Now Absalom and all of the Israelite people entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16. When Hushai the Arkite, the friend of David, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”