16 ⁵ When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; and as he came he cursed continually. 16 ⁶ And 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. 16 ⁷ And Shimei said as he cursed, "Begone, begone, you man of blood, you worthless fellow! 16 ⁸ Yahweh has avenged upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your ruin is on you; for you are a man of blood."

16 ⁹ Then 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." 16 ¹⁰ But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because Yahweh has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?" 16 ¹¹ And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for Yahweh has bidden him. 16 ¹² It may be that Yahweh will look upon my affliction, and that Yahweh will repay me with good for this cursing of me today." 16 ¹³ So 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. 16 ¹⁴ And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself.