¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?

²⁵ It happened, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?

⁶ Do you thus requite Yahweh, Foolish people and unwise? Isn't he your father who has bought you? He has made you, and established you.

³² It happened that when David had come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn, and earth on his head.

³³ David said to him, If you pass on with me, then you will be a burden to me:

³⁴ but if you return to the city, and tell Absalom, I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant; then will you defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.

³⁵ Don't you have Zadok and Abiathar the priests there with you? therefore it shall be, that whatever thing you shall hear out of the king's house, you shall tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

³⁶ Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send to me everything that you shall hear.

³⁷ So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

²⁴ A man of many companions may be ruined, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.