David Is Cursed

5 When King David came to aBahurim, behold, there came out from there a man of the family of the house of Saul bwhose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out ccursing continually as he came.

6 He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; and all the people and all the mighty men were at his right hand and at his left.

7 Thus Shimei said when he cursed, “Get out, get out, ayou man of bloodshed, and worthless fellow!

8 “aThe Lord has returned upon you all bthe bloodshed 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. And behold, you are taken in your own evil, for you are a man of bloodshed!”

9 Then aAbishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should bthis dead dog ccurse my lord the king? Let me go over now and 1cut off his head.”

10 But the king said, “aWhat have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? bIf he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ cthen who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, amy son who came out from 1me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, bfor the Lord has told him.

12 “Perhaps the Lord will look on my affliction and 1areturn good to me instead of his cursing this day.”

13 So David and his men went on the way; and Shimei went along on the hillside parallel with him and as he went he cursed and cast stones and threw dust at him.

14 The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary and he refreshed himself there.