³¹ Now David informed them, saying, “^(A)Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Yahweh, I pray, ^(B)make the counsel of Ahithophel foolishness.”

³² Then it happened that as David was coming to the summit, where he used to worship God, that behold, Hushai the ^(C)Archite met him with his ^[a]coat torn and ^[b]dust on his head. ³³ And David said to him, “If you pass over with me, then you will be ^(D)a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city, and ^(E)say to Absalom, ‘I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father’s servant in time past, so I will now be your servant,’ then you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me. ³⁵ Are not Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? So it shall be that ^(F)whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall inform Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶ Behold, ^(G)their two sons are with them there, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and ^(H)by their hand you shall send me everything that you hear.” ³⁷ So Hushai, ^(I)David’s friend, came into the city, and ^(J)Absalom came into Jerusalem.