38 Wayesethi uShimeyi enkosini: “Lelo zwi lilungile; inceku yakho iyakwenza njengokusho kwenkosi yami, inkosi.” UShimeyi wahlala eJerusalema izinsuku eziningi.
39 Kwathi ngasekupheleni kweminyaka emithathu izinceku ezimbili zikaShimeyi zabaleka, zaya ku-Akhishi indodana kaMahakha inkosi yaseGati. UShimeyi watshelwa ukuthi: “Bheka, izinceku zakho ziseGati.”
40 Wayesesuka uShimeyi, wabophela imbongolo yakhe, waya eGati ku-Akhishi ukuba afune izinceku zakhe; wahamba uShimeyi, wazibuyisa izinceku zakhe eGati.
41 Kwabikelwa uSolomoni ukuthi uShimeyi wayesukile eJerusalema ukuya eGati nokuthi ubuyile.
42 Inkosi yayisithuma yambiza uShimeyi, yathi kuye: “Angithi ngikufungisile uJehova, ngaqinisa kuwe ukuthi: ‘Mhla uphuma uye nomaphi, yazisisa ukuthi uyakufa nokufa,’ na? Wathi kimi: ‘Izwi engilizwileyo lihle.’
43 Pho, awugcinanga ngani isifungo sikaJehova nomyalo engakuyala ngakho na?”
44 Inkosi yathi futhi kuShimeyi: “Wena uyazi konke okubi okwaziwa yinhliziyo yakho, owakwenza kuDavide ubaba; ngalokho uJehova uyakubuyisela ububi bakho ekhanda lakho.