Now let this present ¹  that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow ²  my lord.

So the servants of David went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, “David has sent us to you to bring you back to be his wife.”

She arose, bowed her face toward the ground, and said, “Your female servant, like a lowly servant, will wash ¹  the feet of the servants of my lord.”

Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five of her female servants accompanying her. ¹  She followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.

Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader ¹  has fallen this day in Israel?

Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants.

But Uriah stayed at the door of the palace with all ¹  the servants of his lord. He did not go down to his house.

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king’s soldiers ¹  died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.”

Then Absalom went to the king and said, “My shearers have begun their work. ¹  Let the king and his servants go with me.”

Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.

Just as he finished speaking, the king’s sons arrived, wailing and weeping. ¹  The king and all his servants wept loudly ²  as well.

Then Joab got up and came to Absalom’s house. He said to him, “Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?”

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching him, he ¹  went out and bowed to the king with his face ²  to the ground.

Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants ¹  who should succeed my master the king on his throne?” ² 

and he ¹  told them, “Take your master’s ²  servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon. ³ 

Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. ¹  May you answer your servant’s prayer for this place. ² 

Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants’ claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve. ¹ 

“May you be attentive ¹  to your servant’s and your people Israel’s requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you. ²