Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “This mangy dog can’t insult my master the king this way—let me go over and cut off his head!”

10 But the king said, “Why are you sons of Zeruiah always interfering and getting in the way? If he’s cursing, it’s because God told him, ‘Curse David.’ So who dares raise questions?”

11-12 “Besides,” continued David to Abishai and the rest of his servants, “my own son, my flesh and bone, is right now trying to kill me; compared to that this Benjaminite is small potatoes. Don’t bother with him; let him curse; he’s preaching God’s word to me. And who knows, maybe God will see the trouble I’m in today and exchange the curses for something good.”

Read full chapter

Then Abishai(A) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(B) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”(C)

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(D) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”(E)

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,(F) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.(G)

Read full chapter