1	And when David was a little past# the top of the hill , behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met# him, with a couple of asses saddled# , and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
			2	And the king said# unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said# , The asses be for the king's household to ride on# ; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat# ; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink# .
			3	And the king said# , And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said# unto the king, Behold, he abideth# at Jerusalem: for he said# , To day shall the house of Israel restore# me the kingdom of my father.
			4	Then said# the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said# , I humbly# beseech thee that I may find# grace in thy sight, my lord, O king. [I humbly...: Heb. I do obeisance]
			5	And when king David came# to Bahurim, behold, thence came out# a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth# , and cursed# still as he came# . [he came forth...: or, he still came forth and cursed]
			6	And he cast# 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	And thus said# Shimei when he cursed# , Come out# , come out# , thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: [bloody...: Heb. man of blood]
			8	The LORD hath returned# upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned# ; and the LORD hath delivered# the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. [behold...: Heb. behold thee in thy evil]
			9	Then said# Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead# dog curse# my lord the king? let me go over# , I pray thee, and take off# his head.
			10	And the king said# , What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse# , because the LORD hath said# unto him, Curse# David. Who shall then say# , Wherefore hast thou done so# ?
			11	And David said# to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth# of my bowels, seeketh# my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it ? let him alone# , and let him curse# ; for the LORD hath bidden# him.
			12	It may be that the LORD will look# on mine affliction# # , and that the LORD will requite# me good for his cursing this day. [affliction: or, tears: Heb. eye]
			13	And as David and his men went# by the way, Shimei went along# on the hill's side over against him, and cursed# as he went# , and threw# stones at him, and cast# dust. [cast...: Heb. dusted him with dust]
			14	And the king, and all the people that were with him, came# weary, and refreshed# themselves there.
			15	And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came# to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
			16	And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come# unto Absalom, that Hushai said# unto Absalom, God save# the king, God save# the king. [God...: Heb. Let the king live]
			17	And Absalom said# to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest# thou not with thy friend?
			18	And Hushai said# unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose# , his will I be, and with him will I abide# .
			19	And again, whom should I serve# ? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served# in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.
			20	Then said# Absalom to Ahithophel, Give# counsel among you what we shall do# .
			21	And Ahithophel said# unto Absalom, Go in# unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left# to keep# the house; and all Israel shall hear# that thou art abhorred# of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong# .
			22	So they spread# Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in# unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
			23	And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled# in those days, was as if a man had enquired# at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. [oracle: Heb. word]