¹³ So the woman said: “Why then have you schemed such a thing against ^(A)the people of God? For the king speaks this thing as one who is guilty, in that the king does not bring ^(B)his banished one home again.

³⁷ But Absalom fled and went to ^(A)Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. ³⁸ So Absalom fled and went to ^(B)Geshur, and was there three years.

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I ^(A)anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

⁴⁰ While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.”

Then the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”

⁴¹ And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. ⁴² Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ^(A)‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’ ”

² And the leaders of all the people, all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot soldiers ^(A)who drew the sword.

⁴² And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” ⁴⁴ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no ^(A)water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

⁸ Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: ^(A)“I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.