David Escapes from Jerusalem

¹³ Now a messenger came to David, saying, ^(A)“The hearts of the men of Israel are ^[a]with Absalom.”

¹⁴ So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us ^(B)flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

³⁰ So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he ^(A)had his head covered and went ^(B)barefoot. And all the people who were with him ^(C)covered their heads and went up, ^(D)weeping as they went up.

Shimei Curses David

⁵ Now when King David came to ^(A)Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was ^(B)Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. ⁶ And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. ⁷ Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You ^[a]bloodthirsty man, ^(C)you ^[b]rogue! ⁸ The Lord has ^(D)brought upon you all ^(E)the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a ^[c]bloodthirsty man!”

⁹ Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this ^(F)dead dog ^(G)curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

¹⁰ But the king said, ^(H)“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because ^(I)the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ ^(J)Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

¹¹ And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how ^(K)my son who ^(L)came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look on ^[d]my affliction, and that the Lord will ^(M)repay me with ^(N)good for his cursing this day.” ¹³ And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and ^[e]kicked up dust.