2 Samuel 16:5–13

Shimei Curses David

⁵Now when King David came to ^fBahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was ^gShimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. ⁶And 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. ⁷Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You ¹bloodthirsty man, ^hyou ²rogue! ⁸The Lord has ⁱbrought upon you all ^jthe blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a ³bloodthirsty man!”

⁹Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this ^kdead dog ^lcurse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”

¹⁰But the king said, ^m“What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because ⁿthe Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ ^oWho then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ ”

¹¹And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how ^pmy son who ^qcame from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the Lord has ordered him. ¹²It may be that the Lord will look on ⁴my affliction, and that the Lord will ^rrepay me with ^sgood for his cursing this day.” ¹³And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and ⁵kicked up dust.