David is walking away from Jerusalem in exile, pelted with stones by a man of Saul’s house. His response stands as one of Scripture’s great acts of sovereign trust.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
When David was a little past the top, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him With a couple of donkeys saddled and on them two hundred loaves of bread And one hundred clusters of raisins and one hundred summer fruits and a container of wine
The king said to Ziba, What do you mean by these Ziba said, The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on And the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat And the wine that those who are faint in the wilderness may drink
The king said, Where is your master’s son Ziba said to the king, Behold, he is staying in Jerusalem For he said, Today the house of Israel will restore me the kingdom of my father Then the king said to Ziba, Behold, all that belongs to Mephibosheth is yours
Ziba said, I bow down. Let me find favor in your sight, my lord, O king When King David came to Bahurim, behold, a man of the family of Saul’s house came out Whose name was Shimei the son of Gera He came out and cursed as he came
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 Shimei said when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood and wicked fellow The LORD has returned on you all the blood of Saul’s house
In whose place you have reigned The LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son Behold, you are caught by your own mischief because you are a man of blood Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king
Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king Please let me go over and take off his head The king said, What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah Because he curses and because the LORD has said to him, Curse David
Who then shall say, Why have you done so David said to Abishai and to all his servants, Behold, my son who came out of my bowels seeks my life How much more this Benjamite now Leave him alone and let him curse for the LORD has invited him
It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me And that the LORD will repay me good for the cursing of me today So David and his men went by the way And Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went
Threw stones at him and threw dust The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary And he refreshed himself there
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2 Samuel 16 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.
Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press