7. Shimei was yelling at David, “Get out of here, you murderer! You good-for-nothing,
8. the Lord is paying you back for killing so many in Saul's family. You stole his kingdom, but now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. You're a murderer, and that's why you're in such big trouble!”
9. Abishai said, “Your Majesty, this man is as useless as a dead dog! He shouldn't be allowed to curse you. Let me go over and chop off his head.”
10. David replied, “What will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? If Shimei is cursing me because the Lord has told him to, then who are you to tell him to stop?”
11. Then David said to Abishai and all his soldiers:My own son is trying to kill me! Why shouldn't this man from the tribe of Benjamin want me dead even more? Let him curse all he wants. Perhaps the Lord did tell him to curse me.
12. But if the Lord hears these curses and sees the trouble I'm in, perhaps he will have pity on me instead.
13. David and the others went on down the road. Shimei went along the hillside by the road, cursing and throwing stones and earth at them.
14. When David and those with him came to the River Jordan, they were tired out. But after they rested, they felt much better.
15. By this time, Absalom, Ahithophel, and the others had reached Jerusalem.
16. David's friend Hushai came to Absalom and said, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”
17. But Absalom asked Hushai, “Is this how you show loyalty to your friend David? Why didn't you go with him?”