³¹ And it was told David, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, please ^(A)turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.”

³² While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai ^(B)the Archite came to meet him ^(C)with his coat torn and ^(D)dirt on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be ^(E)a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ^(F)‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,’ then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. ³⁵ Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So whatever you hear from the king's house, ^(G)tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶ Behold, ^(H)their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son, ^(I)and by them you shall send to me everything you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai, ^(J)David's friend, came into the city, ^(K)just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.