2 Samuel 16:5-14

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

⁵ When 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.

⁶ And 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.

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

⁸ The 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!

⁹ Then said [David’s nephew] 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.

¹⁰ The 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?

¹¹ And 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.

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

¹³ So 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.

¹⁴ And the king and all the people who were with him came [to the Jordan] weary, and he refreshed himself there.