1 *The infidelitie of Zibá. 5 Shimeí curseth Dauid. 16 Hushái cometh to Absalóm. 21 The counsel of Ahithóphel for the concubines.*
1.When Dauid was a litle past the a toppe of the hil, beholde, Zibá the seruant of Mephibósheth met him with a couple of asses sadled, and vpon them two hundreth cakes of bread, and one hundreth b bunches of raisins, and an hundreth of c dryed figges, and a bottel of wine.
2.And the King said vnto Zibá, What meanest thou by these? And Zibá said, They be b asses for the Kings housholde to ride on, and bread and dryed figges for the yong men to eat, and wine, that the faint may drincke in the wildernes.
3.And the King said, But where is thy masters sonne? Then Zibá answered the King, Beholde, he remaineth in Ierusalém: for he said, This day shal the house of Israél restore me the kingdome of my father.
4.Then said the King to Zibá, Beholde, thine are all that perteined vnto Mephibósheth. And Zibá said, d I beseche thee, let me finde grace in thy sight, my lord, ô King.
5.¶ And when King Dauid came to e Bahurím, beholde, thence came out a man of the familie of the house of Saúl, named Shimeí the sonne of Gerá: and he came out, and cursed.
6.And he cast stones at Dauid, and at all the seruants of King Dauid: and all the people, and all the men of warre were on his d right hand, and on his left.
7.And thus said Shimeí when he cursed, Come forthe, come forthe thou * murtherer, and " wicked man.
8.The Lord hathe broght vpon thee all the e blood of the house of Saúl, in whose stead thou hast reigned: and the Lord hathe deliuered the kingdome into the hand of Absalóm thy sonne: and beholde, thou art taken in thy wickednes, because thou art a murtherer.
9.¶ Then said Abishái the sonne of Zeruiáh vnto the King, Why doeth this * dead dogge curse my lord the King? let me go, I pray thee, and take away his head.
10.But the King said, What haue I to do with you, ye sonnes of Zeruiáh: for he curseth, euen because the Lord hathe f bidden him curse Dauid: who dare then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
11.And Dauid said to Abishái, & to all his seruants, Beholde, my sonne which came out of mine owne bowels, seketh my life: then how muche more now may this sonne of Iemini? Suffre him to curse: for the Lord hathe bidden him.
12.It may be that the Lord wil loke on * mine affliction, and do me good for his cursing this day.
13.And as Dauid and his men went by the way, Shimeí went by the side of the mountaine ouer against him, and cursed as he went, and threwe stones against him, and cast dust.
14.Then came the King & all the people that were with him weary, and refreshed themselues h there.
15.¶ And Absalóm, and all the people, the men of Israél came to Ierusalém, & Ahithóphel with him.
16.And when Hushái the Archite Dauids friend was come vnto Absalóm, Hushái said vnto Absalóm, * God saue the King, God saue the King.
17.Then Absalóm said to Hushái, Is this thy kindenes to thy i friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18.Hushái then answered vnto Absalóm, Nay, but whome the Lord, & this people, and all the men of Israél chuse, his wil I be, and with him wil I dwell.
19.And " moreouer vnto whome shal I do seruice? not to his sonne? as I serued before thy father, so wil I before thee.
20.¶ Then spake Absalóm to Ahithóphel, Giue counsel what we shal do.
21.And k Ahithóphel said vnto Absalóm, Go in to thy fathers concubines, which he hathe left to kepe the house: and when all Israél shal heare, that thou art abhorred of thy father, the hands of all that are with thee, shalbe strong.
22.So they spred Absalóm a tent vpon the top of the house, and Absalóm went in to his fathers concubines in the sight of all Israél.
23.And the counsel of Ahithóphel which he counseled in those dayes, was like as one had asked l counsel at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithóphel bothe with Dauid and with Absalóm.