16 Kwathi lapho uHushayi umArki umngane kaDavide esefikile ku-Abisalomu, uHushayi wathi ku-Abisalomu: “Mana njalo, nkosi; mana njalo, nkosi.”
17 U-Abisalomu wayesethi kuHushayi: “Lokhu kungukuthembeka kwakho kumngane wakho na? Awuhambanga ngani nomngane wakho na?”
18 Wayesethi uHushayi ku-Abisalomu: “Qha, lo okhethwe nguJehova, nayilaba bantu, nangabantu bonke bakwa-Israyeli, ngiyakuba ngowakhe, ngihlale naye.
19 Futhi ngikhonze bani na? Kungabi phambi kwendodana yakhe na? Njengalokho ngakhonza phambi kukayihlo, kanjalo ngiyakuba phambi kwakho.”
20 Wayesethi u-Abisalomu ku-Ahithofeli: “Sipheni isiluleko sokuthi siyakwenze njani.”
21 Wathi-ke u-Ahithofeli ku-Abisalomu: “Ngena kuzo izancinza zikayihlo azishiyile ukuba zilinde indlu; u-Israyeli wonke uyakuzwa ukuba unengwa nguyihlo, ziqine izandla zabo bonke abanawe.”
22 Bammisela u-Abisalomu itende ophahleni lwendlu; u-Abisalomu wangena kuzo izancinza zikayise emehlweni abo bonke abakwa-Israyeli.