8. “Leave it to me,” the king told her. “Go home, and I’ll see to it that no one touches him.”
9. “Oh, thank you, my lord the king,” the woman from Tekoa replied. “If you are criticized for helping me, let the blame fall on me and on my father’s house, and let the king and his throne be innocent.”
10. “If anyone objects,” the king said, “bring him to me. I can assure you he will never harm you again!”
11. Then she said, “Please swear to me by the lord your God that you won’t let anyone take vengeance against my son. I want no more bloodshed.”“As surely as the lord lives,” he replied, “not a hair on your son’s head will be disturbed!”
12. “Please allow me to ask one more thing of my lord the king,” she said.“Go ahead and speak,” he responded.