NowI have heardthat you have shearers;nowyour shepherdshave beenwith us and we have not insultedthem, norhave they missedanythingallthe daysthey were in Carmel.
Now it cameabout after two fullyearsthat Absalomhadsheepshearersin Baal-hazor,whichis nearEphraim,and Absalominvitedallthe king'ssons.
Absalomcameto the kingand said,"Beholdnow,your servanthas sheepshearers;pleaselet the kingand his servantsgowith your servant."
[Some] soldierswere questioninghim, saying,"And [what about] us, whatshall we do?"And he saidto them, "Do not take moneyfrom anyoneby force,oraccuse [anyone] falsely,and be contentwith your wages."
sothat you will proveyourselves to be blamelessand innocent,childrenof Godabove reproachin the midstof a crookedand perversegeneration,amongwhomyou appearas lightsin the world,
Finally,brethren,whateveris true,whateveris honorable,whateveris right,whateveris pure,whateveris lovely,whateveris of good repute,ifthere is anyexcellenceand ifanythingworthy of praise,dwellon these things.
Everyonewho was in distress,and everyonewhowas in debt,and everyonewho was discontentedgatheredto him; and he becamecaptainoverthem. Now there were about fourhundredmenwith him.
Now Davidhad said,"Surelyin vainI have guardedallthat this[man] has in the wilderness,so that nothingwas missedof allthat belonged to him; and he has returnedme evilfor good.
