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But Zeruiah's son Abishai answered, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this? He spoke against the Lord's chosen one."

But David said, "What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? Why should you be against me this day? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? For do I not know that this day I am king of Israel?"

And he has spoken against me to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God. So do what you think is best.

For all those of my father's house were nothing but dead men in front of my lord the king. But you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right do I have to complain any more to the king?"

But Barzillai said to the king, "How much longer have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?

Let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. And do for him what is good in your eyes."

But the men of Israel said to the men of Judah, "We have ten shares in the king. So we have more right to David than you. Why then did you hate us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?" But the words of the men of Judah had more anger than the words of the men of Israel.

So all the men of Israel stopped following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri. But the men of Judah were not moved from following their king, from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

Then David came to his house at Jerusalem. The king took his ten women whom he had left to take care of the house, and had a prison soldier watch them. David gave them food, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as women whose husbands had died.

So Amasa went to call out the men of Judah. But he took longer than the time which had been given him.

But Amasa did not see the sword which was in Joab's hand. So Joab hit him in the stomach with it, and poured his inside parts out on the ground. He did not hit him again, and Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went after Sheba the son of Bichri.

But Amasa lay in his blood in the center of the road. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he took Amasa out of the road and into the field. And he threw a covering over him.

That is not true. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim has turned against King David. His name is Sheba the son of Bichri. Give up only him, and I will leave the city." And the woman said to Joab, "See, his head will be thrown to you over the wall."

So the king called the Gibeonites. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel, but of the people who were left of the Amorites. The sons of Israel had made an agreement with them. But Saul had wanted to kill them because he thought so much of the sons of Israel and Judah.)

But the king kept alive Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because David had made a promise to Saul's son Jonathan before the Lord.

But Zeruiah's son Abishai helped David and killed the Philistine. Then David's men promised him, "You will not go out again with us to battle. You might put out the lamp of Israel."

They came upon me in the day of my trouble. But the Lord held me up.

With the pure You show Yourself pure. But with the sinful, You show Yourself wise.

You save a troubled people. But Your eyes are on the proud whom You put to shame.

"For who is God, but the Lord? Who is a Rock, except our God?