2 Samuel 16:6-20
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 16
6He also threw stones at David and all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left. 7This is what Shimei said when he cursed: 'Go away, go away, you man of bloodshed and worthless man! 8The Lord has brought back upon you all the bloodshed of the house of Saul, in whose place you have become king; and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. And behold, you are caught in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!'
9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, 'Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Now let me go over and cut off his head.'
10But the king said, 'What business of mine is yours, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’?'
11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, 'Behold, my son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him.
12Perhaps the Lord will look on my misery and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.'
13So David and his men went on the road; and Shimei kept going on the hillside close beside him, and as he went he cursed and threw stones and dirt at him.
14And the king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted, and he refreshed himself there.
15Then Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, entered Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16Now it came about, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, 'Long live the king! Long live the king!'
17But Absalom said to Hushai, 'Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?'
18So Hushai said to Absalom, 'No! For whomever the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I shall be, and with him I shall remain.
19Besides, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? Just as I have served in your father’s presence, so I shall be in your presence.'
King James Version
Chapter 16
6And 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. 7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: 8The 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.
9Then 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.
10And 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?
11And 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.
12It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13And 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.
14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
15And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16And 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.
17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18And 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.
19And 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.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 16
6He threw stones at David and at all the royal servants, the people and the warriors on David’s right and left. 7Shimei said as he cursed: "Get out, get out, you man of bloodshed, you wicked man! 8The Lord has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul in whose place you became king, and the Lord has handed the kingdom over to your son Absalom. Look, you are in trouble because you’re a man of bloodshed!"
10The king replied, "Sons of Zeruiah, do we agree on anything? He curses me this way because the Lord told him, ‘Curse David!’ Therefore, who can say, ‘Why did you do that?’"
11Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, "Look, my own son, my own flesh and blood, intends to take my life —how much more now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone and let him curse me; the Lord has told him to.
12Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei’s curses today."
13So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei was going along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he cursed David, threw stones at him, and kicked up dust.
14Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived exhausted, so they rested there.
15Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem. Ahithophel was also with him.
16When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17"Is this your loyalty to your friend?" Absalom asked Hushai. "Why didn’t you go with your friend?"
New Living Translation
Chapter 16
6He threw stones at the king and the king’s officers and all the mighty warriors who surrounded him. 7Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!' he shouted at David. 8The Lord is paying you back for all the bloodshed in Saul’s clan. You stole his throne, and now the Lord has given it to your son Absalom. At last you will taste some of your own medicine, for you are a murderer!'
11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, 'My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it.
12And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.'
13So David and his men continued down the road, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing and throwing stones and dirt at David.
15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the army of Israel arrived at Jerusalem, accompanied by Ahithophel.
16When David’s friend Hushai the Arkite arrived, he went immediately to see Absalom. 'Long live the king!' he exclaimed. 'Long live the king!'
English Standard Version
Chapter 16
6And he threw 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. 7And Shimei said as he cursed, "Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood."
9Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head."
10But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’"
11And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.
12It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today."
13So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust.
14And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.
15Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16And when Hushai the Archite, David 's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
17And Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?"
18And Hushai said to Absalom, "No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you."
New International Version
Chapter 16
6He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7As he cursed, Shimei said, "Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!"
11David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.
12It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today."
13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt.
14The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.
15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him.
16Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"
New King James Version
Chapter 16
6And he threw 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. 7Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! 8The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”
11And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him.
12It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”
13And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust.
14Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.
15Meanwhile Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem; and Ahithophel was with him.
16And so it was, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, “ Long live the king! Long live the king!”
18And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his I will be, and with him I will remain.
19Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father’s presence, so will I be in your presence.”
