Then (A)Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should (B)this dead dog (C)curse my lord the king? Let me go over now and [a]cut off his head.” 10 But the king said, “(D)What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? (E)If he curses, and if the Lord has told him, ‘Curse David,’ (F)then who shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, (G)my son who came out from [b]me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, (H)for the Lord has told him.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 16:9 Lit take off
  2. 2 Samuel 16:11 Lit my body

Then Abishai(A) son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog(B) curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”(C)

10 But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah?(D) If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”(E)

11 David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son,(F) my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to.(G)

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