¹⁶ And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, had come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, “God save the king! God save the king!”

¹⁷ And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this thy kindness to thy friend? Why wentest thou not with thy friend?”

¹⁸ And Hushai said unto Absalom, “Nay; but whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.