1 W hen David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba, the servant of Mephibosheth, met him with a couple of donkeys saddled, and upon them 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

When David had gone a short way past the mountain top, Mephibosheth’s servant Ziba met him with two donkeys ready for traveling. On them were 200 loaves of bread, 100 vines of dried grapes, 100 summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.

2 T he king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these? Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who become faint in the wilderness.

The king said to Ziba, “Why do you have these?” And Ziba said, “The donkeys are for those of the king’s house to travel on. The bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat. And the wine drink is for whoever is weak in the desert.”

3 T he king said, And where is your master’s son ? Ziba said to the king, Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.

Then the king said, “Where is your owner’s son?” And Ziba answered, “He is staying in Jerusalem. For he said, ‘Today the family of Israel will return to me the nation of my father.’”

4 T hen the king said to Ziba, Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours. Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord O king.

So the king said to Ziba, “See, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours.” And Ziba said, “I bow down in honor to you. O my lord the king, let me find favor in your eyes!” David and Shimei

5 W hen King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul, Shimei son of Gera, came out and cursed continually as he came.

When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of Saul. His name was Shimei, the son of Gera. He did not stop speaking bad things as he came.

6 A nd 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.

He threw stones at David, and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the strong men were at his right and at his left.

7 S himei said as he cursed, Get out, get out, you man of blood, you base fellow!

Shimei said as he said bad things, “Get out! Get out, you man of blood, you man of no worth!

8 T he Lord has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hands of Absalom your son. Behold, the calamity is upon you because you are a bloody man!

The Lord has punished you for all the blood of the family of Saul, in whose place you have ruled! The Lord has given the nation to your son Absalom! Your trouble is upon you, because you are a man of blood!”

9 T hen said Abishai son of Zeruiah to the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.

Zeruiah’s son Abishai said to the king, “Why should this dead dog speak against my lord the king? Let me go now and cut off his head.”

10 T he king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, Curse David, who then shall ask, Why have you done so?

But the king said, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he speaks against me, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Speak against David,’ then who should say, ‘Why have you done so?’”

11 A nd David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who was born to me, seeks my life. With how much more reason now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone; and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him to do it.

Then David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See, my own son wants to kill me. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him speak against me, for the Lord has told him.

12 I t may be that the Lord will look on the iniquity done me and will recompense me with good for his cursing this day.

It may be that the Lord will look upon my trouble and return good to me instead of his bad words today.”

13 S o David and his men went by the road, and Shimei went along on the hillside opposite David and cursed as he went and threw stones and dust at him.

So David and his men went on the way. And Shimei went beside him on the hill. He spoke against David as he went, and threw stones and dust at him.

14 A nd the king and all the people who were with him came weary, and he refreshed himself there.

The king and all the people with him were tired when they came to the Jordan. There he rested and received new strength. Absalom Goes to Jerusalem

15 A nd Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.

Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came into Jerusalem. And Ahithophel was with him.

16 A nd when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to, Long live the king! Long live the king!

When David’s friend Hushai the Archite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17 A bsalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness and loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?

And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

18 H ushai said to Absalom, No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him I will remain.

Hushai said to Absalom, “No! I will belong to whoever is chosen by the Lord, this people, and all the men of Israel.

19 A nd again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so will I serve you.

And whom should I serve? Should I not serve his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 T hen Absalom said to Ahithophel, Give your counsel. What shall we do?

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your wise words. What should we do?”

21 A nd Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father’s concubines whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that you are abhorred by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made strong.

Ahithophel answered, “Go in to your father’s women, whom he has left to take care of the house. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself hated by your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be made stronger.”

22 S o they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s harem in the sight of all Israel.

So they set up a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father’s women so that the eyes of all Israel could see.

23 A nd the counsel of Ahithophel in those days was as if a man had consulted the word of God; so was all Ahithophel’s counsel considered both by David and by Absalom.

The words that Ahithophel spoke in those days were as if one had asked for the Word of God. Both David and Absalom thought of Ahithophel’s words in this way.