⁷ “But show kindness to the sons of ^(A)Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who ^(B)eat at your table, for so ^(C)they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

⁸ “And see, you have with you ^(D)Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a malicious curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim. But ^(E)he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and ^(F)I swore to him by the Lord, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’ ⁹ Now therefore, ^(G)do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man and know what you ought to do to him; but ^(H)bring his gray hair down to the grave with blood.”