7. And so, as he was cursing the king, Shimei said: "Go away, go away, you man of blood, and you man of Belial!
8. The Lord has repaid you for all the blood of the house of Saul. For you have usurped the kingdom in place of him. And so, the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom, your son. And behold, your evils press close upon you, because you are a man of blood."
9. Then Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, said to the king: "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go and cut off his head."
10. And the king said: "What is it to me and to all of you, O sons of Zeruiah? Permit him, so that he may curse. For the Lord has commanded him to curse David. And who is the one who would dare to say, 'Why has he done so?' "
11. And the king said to Abishai and to all his servants: "Behold, my son, who went forth from my loins, is seeking my life. How much more does a son of Benjamin do so now? Permit him, so that he may curse, in accord with the command of the Lord.
12. Perhaps the Lord may look with favor upon my affliction, and the Lord may repay me good, in place of the cursing of this day."
13. And so, David continued walking along the way, and his associates with him. But Shimei was advancing along the ridge of the mountain on the side opposite him, cursing and throwing stones at him, and scattering dirt.
14. And the king and the entire people with him, being weary, went and refreshed themselves there.
15. But Absalom and all his people entered into Jerusalem. Moreover, Ahithophel was with him.
16. And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, had gone to Absalom, he said to him: "May you be well, O king! May you be well, O king!"
17. And Absalom said to him: "Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
18. And Hushai responded to Absalom: "By no means! For I will be his, whom the Lord has chosen. And I, and all this people, and all of Israel, will remain with him.
19. But then too, I declare this: whom should I serve? Is it not the son of the king? Just as I have been subject to your father, so will I be subject to you also."