2 Samuel 16:9-12

English Standard Version

⁹ Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this ^(A)dead dog ^(B)curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” ¹⁰ But the king said, ^(C)“What have I to do with you, ^(D)you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” ¹¹ And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, ^(E)my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me,^[a] and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.”