¹¹David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Look, my son who came out of my loins^h is seeking my life. Now as far asⁱ this Benjaminite, leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has spoken to him. ¹²Perhaps Yahweh will look in my eye^j and repay good for me in place of his curse this day.

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Footnotes

hHebrew “intestines”
iLiterally “and even that now”
jAccording to the reading tradition (Qere); Kethib has “at my guilt”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And 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. It 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.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

David 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. It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then 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. Perhaps the Lord will see my affliction and restore goodness to me instead of Shimei’s curses today.”

NLTNew Living Translation

Then 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. And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And 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. It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

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