2 Samuel 16
About 2 Samuel 2 Samuel covers King David's reign, his successes and failures, and God's promise of a lasting dynasty.
1And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.Selected2 Samuel 16:1Ask
2And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king’s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.Selected2 Samuel 16:2Ask
3And the king said, And where is thy master’s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.Selected2 Samuel 16:3Ask
4Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.Selected2 Samuel 16:4Ask
5And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.Selected2 Samuel 16:5Ask
6And he cast 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.Selected2 Samuel 16:6Ask
7And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:Selected2 Samuel 16:7Ask
8The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.Selected2 Samuel 16:8Ask
9Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.Selected2 Samuel 16:9Ask
10And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?Selected2 Samuel 16:10Ask
11And 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.Selected2 Samuel 16:11Ask
12It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.Selected2 Samuel 16:12Ask
13And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill’s side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.Selected2 Samuel 16:13Ask
14And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.Selected2 Samuel 16:14Ask
15And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.Selected2 Samuel 16:15Ask
16And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.Selected2 Samuel 16:16Ask
17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?Selected2 Samuel 16:17Ask
18And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.Selected2 Samuel 16:18Ask
19And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.Selected2 Samuel 16:19Ask
20Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.Selected2 Samuel 16:20Ask
21And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.Selected2 Samuel 16:21Ask
22So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.Selected2 Samuel 16:22Ask
23And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.Selected2 Samuel 16:23Ask
Read from the KJV text.