1 Samuel 25

Louis Segond 1910

1Samuel mourut. Tout Israël s’étant assemblé le pleura, et on l’enterra dans sa demeure à Rama. Ce fut alors que David se leva et descendit au désert de Paran.

2Il y avait à Maon un homme fort riche, possédant des biens à Carmel; il avait trois mille brebis et mille chèvres, et il se trouvait à Carmel pour la tonte de ses brebis.

3Le nom de cet homme était Nabal, et sa femme s’appelait Abigaïl; c’était une femme de bon sens et belle de figure, mais l’homme était dur et méchant dans ses actions. Il descendait de Caleb.

4David apprit au désert que Nabal tondait ses brebis.

5Il envoya vers lui dix jeunes gens, auxquels il dit: Montez à Carmel, et allez auprès de Nabal. Vous le saluerez en mon nom,

6et vous lui parlerez ainsi: Pour la vie sois en paix, et que la paix soit avec ta maison et tout ce qui t’appartient!

7Et maintenant, j’ai appris que tu as les tondeurs. Or tes bergers ont été avec nous; nous ne leur avons fait aucun outrage, et rien ne leur a été enlevé pendant tout le temps qu’ils ont été à Carmel.

8Demande-le à tes serviteurs, et ils te le diront. Que ces jeunes gens trouvent donc grâce à tes yeux, puisque nous venons dans un jour de joie. Donne donc, je te prie, à tes serviteurs et à ton fils David ce qui se trouvera sous ta main.

9Lorsque les gens de David furent arrivés, ils répétèrent à Nabal toutes ces paroles, au nom de David. Puis ils se turent.

10Nabal répondit aux serviteurs de David: Qui est David, et qui est le fils d’Isaï? Il y a aujourd’hui beaucoup de serviteurs qui s’échappent d’auprès de leurs maîtres.

11Et je prendrais mon pain, mon eau, et mon bétail que j’ai tué pour mes tondeurs, et je les donnerais à des gens qui sont je ne sais d’où?

12Les gens de David rebroussèrent chemin; ils s’en retournèrent, et redirent, à leur arrivée, toutes ces paroles à David.

13Alors David dit à ses gens: Que chacun de vous ceigne son épée! Et ils ceignirent chacun leur épée. David aussi ceignit son épée, et environ quatre cents hommes montèrent à sa suite. Il en resta deux cents près des bagages.

14Un des serviteurs de Nabal vint dire à Abigaïl, femme de Nabal: Voici, David a envoyé du désert des messagers pour saluer notre maître, qui les a rudoyés.

15Et pourtant ces gens ont été très bons pour nous; ils ne nous ont fait aucun outrage, et rien ne nous a été enlevé, tout le temps que nous avons été avec eux lorsque nous étions dans les champs.

16Ils nous ont nuit et jour servi de muraille, tout le temps que nous avons été avec eux, faisant paître les troupeaux.

17Sache maintenant et vois ce que tu as à faire, car la perte de notre maître et de toute sa maison est résolue, et il est si méchant qu’on n’ose lui parler.

18Abigaïl prit aussitôt deux cents pains, deux outres de vin, cinq pièces de bétail apprêtées, cinq mesures de grain rôti, cent masses de raisins secs, et deux cents de figues sèches. Elle les mit sur des ânes,

19et elle dit à ses serviteurs: Passez devant moi, je vais vous suivre. Elle ne dit rien à Nabal, son mari.

20Montée sur un âne, elle descendit la montagne par un chemin couvert; et voici, David et ses gens descendaient en face d’elle, en sorte qu’elle les rencontra.

21David avait dit: C’est bien en vain que j’ai gardé tout ce que cet homme a dans le désert, et que rien n’a été enlevé de tout ce qu’il possède; il m’a rendu le mal pour le bien.

22Que Dieu traite son serviteur David dans toute sa rigueur, si je laisse subsister jusqu’à la lumière du matin qui que ce soit de tout ce qui appartient à Nabal!

23Lorsque Abigaïl aperçut David, elle descendit rapidement de l’âne, tomba sur sa face en présence de David, et se prosterna contre terre.

24Puis, se jetant à ses pieds, elle dit: A moi la faute, mon seigneur! Permets à ta servante de parler à tes oreilles, et écoute les paroles de ta servante.

25Que mon seigneur ne prenne pas garde à ce méchant homme, à Nabal, car il est comme son nom; Nabal est son nom, et il y a chez lui de la folie. Et moi, ta servante, je n’ai pas vu les gens que mon seigneur a envoyés.

26Maintenant, mon seigneur, aussi vrai que l’Éternel est vivant et que ton âme est vivante, c’est l’Éternel qui t’a empêché de répandre le sang et qui a retenu ta main. Que tes ennemis, que ceux qui veulent du mal à mon seigneur soient comme Nabal!

27Accepte ce présent que ta servante apporte à mon seigneur, et qu’il soit distribué aux gens qui marchent à la suite de mon seigneur.

28Pardonne, je te prie, la faute de ta servante, car l’Éternel fera à mon seigneur une maison stable; pardonne, car mon seigneur soutient les guerres de l’Éternel, et la méchanceté ne se trouvera jamais en toi.

29S’il s’élève quelqu’un qui te poursuive et qui en veuille à ta vie, l’âme de mon seigneur sera liée dans le faisceau des vivants auprès de l’Éternel, ton Dieu, et il lancera du creux de la fronde l’âme de tes ennemis.

30Lorsque l’Éternel aura fait à mon seigneur tout le bien qu’il t’a annoncé, et qu’il t’aura établi chef sur Israël,

31mon seigneur n’aura ni remords ni souffrance de cœur pour avoir répandu le sang inutilement et pour s’être vengé lui-même. Et lorsque l’Éternel aura fait du bien à mon seigneur, souviens-toi de ta servante.

32David dit à Abigaïl: Béni soit l’Éternel, le Dieu d’Israël, qui t’a envoyée aujourd’hui à ma rencontre!

33Béni soit ton bon sens, et bénie sois-tu, toi qui m’as empêché en ce jour de répandre le sang, et qui as retenu ma main!

34Mais l’Éternel, le Dieu d’Israël, qui m’a empêché de te faire du mal, est vivant! Si tu ne t’étais hâtée de venir au-devant de moi, il ne serait resté qui que ce soit à Nabal, d’ici à la lumière du matin.

35Et David prit de la main d’Abigaïl ce qu’elle lui avait apporté, et lui dit: Monte en paix dans ta maison; vois, j’ai écouté ta voix, et je t’ai favorablement accueillie.

36Abigaïl arriva auprès de Nabal. Et voici, il faisait dans sa maison un festin comme un festin de roi; il avait le cœur joyeux, et il était complètement dans l’ivresse. Elle ne lui dit aucune chose, petite ou grande, jusqu’à la lumière du matin.

37Mais le matin, l’ivresse de Nabal s’étant dissipée, sa femme lui raconta ce qui s’était passé. Le cœur de Nabal reçut un coup mortel, et devint comme une pierre.

38Environ dix jours après, l’Éternel frappa Nabal, et il mourut.

39David apprit que Nabal était mort, et il dit: Béni soit l’Éternel, qui a défendu ma cause dans l’outrage que m’a fait Nabal, et qui a empêché son serviteur de faire le mal! L’Éternel a fait retomber la méchanceté de Nabal sur sa tête. David envoya proposer à Abigaïl de devenir sa femme.

40Les serviteurs de David arrivèrent chez Abigaïl à Carmel, et lui parlèrent ainsi: David nous a envoyés vers toi, afin de te prendre pour sa femme.

41Elle se leva, se prosterna le visage contre terre, et dit: Voici, ta servante sera une esclave pour laver les pieds des serviteurs de mon seigneur.

42Et aussitôt Abigaïl partit, montée sur un âne, et accompagnée de cinq jeunes filles; elle suivit les messagers de David, et elle devint sa femme.

43David avait aussi pris Achinoam de Jizreel, et toutes les deux furent ses femmes.

44Et Saül avait donné sa fille Mical, femme de David, à Palthi de Gallim, fils de Laïsch.

Reina-Valera 1909

1Y MURIÓ Samuel, y juntóse todo Israel, y lo lloraron, y lo sepultaron en su casa en Rama. Y levantóse David, y se fué al desierto de Parán.

2Y en Maón había un hombre que tenía su hacienda en el Carmelo, el cual era muy rico, que tenía tres mil ovejas y mil cabras. Y aconteció hallarse esquilando sus ovejas en el Carmelo.

3El nombre de aquel varón era Nabal, y el nombre de su mujer, Abigail. Y era aquella mujer de buen entendimiento y de buena gracia; mas el hombre era duro y de malos hechos; y era del linaje de Caleb.

4Y oyó David en el desierto que Nabal esquilaba sus ovejas.

5Entonces envió David diez criados, y díjoles: Subid al Carmelo, é id á Nabal, y saludadle en mi nombre,

6Y decidle así: Que vivas y sea paz á ti, y paz á tu familia, y paz á todo cuanto tienes.

7Ha poco supe que tienes esquiladores. Ahora, á los pastores tuyos que han estado con nosotros, nunca les hicimos fuerza, ni les faltó algo en todo el tiempo que han estado en el Carmelo.

8Pregunta á tus criados, que ellos te lo dirán. Hallen por tanto estos criados gracia en tus ojos, pues que venimos en buen día: ruégote que des lo que tuvieres á mano á tus siervos, y á tu hijo David.

9Y como llegaron los criados de David, dijeron á Nabal todas estas palabras en nombre de David, y callaron.

10Y Nabal respondió á los criados de David, y dijo: ¿Quién es David? ¿y quién es el hijo de Isaí? Muchos siervos hay hoy que se huyen de sus señores.

11¿He de tomar yo ahora mi pan, mi agua, y mi víctima que he preparado para mis esquiladores, y la daré á hombres que no sé de dónde son?

12Y tornándose los criados de David, volviéronse por su camino, y vinieron y dijeron á David todas estas palabras.

13Entonces David dijo á sus hombres: Cíñase cada uno su espada. Y ciñóse cada uno su espada: también David ciñó su espada; y subieron tras David como cuatrocientos hombres, y dejaron doscientos con el bagaje.

14Y uno de los criados dió aviso á Abigail mujer de Nabal, diciendo: He aquí David envió mensajeros del desierto que saludasen á nuestro amo, y él los ha zaherido.

15Mas aquellos hombres nos han sido muy buenos, y nunca nos han hecho fuerza, ni ninguna cosa nos ha faltado en todo el tiempo que hemos conversado con ellos, mientras hemos estado en el campo.

16Hannos sido por muro de día y de noche, todos los días que hemos estado con ellos apacentando las ovejas.

17Ahora pues, entiende y mira lo que has de hacer, porque el mal está del todo resuelto contra nuestro amo y contra toda su casa: pues él es un hombre tan malo, que no hay quien pueda hablarle.

18Entonces Abigail tomó luego doscientos panes, y dos cueros de vino, y cinco ovejas guisadas, y cinco medidas de grano tostado, y cien hilos de uvas pasas, y doscientos panes de higos secos, y cargólo en asnos;

19Y dijo á sus criados: Id delante de mí, que yo os seguiré luego. Y nada declaró á su marido Nabal.

20Y sentándose sobre un asno descendió por una parte secreta del monte, y he aquí David y los suyos que venían frente á ella, y ella les fué al encuentro.

21Y David había dicho: Ciertamente en vano he guardado todo lo que éste tiene en el desierto, sin que nada le haya faltado de todo cuanto es suyo; y él me ha vuelto mal por bien.

22Así haga Dios, y así añada á los enemigos de David, que de aquí á mañana no tengo de dejar de todo lo que fuere suyo ni aun meante á la pared.

23Y como Abigail vió á David, apeóse prestamente del asno, y postrándose delante de David sobre su rostro, inclinóse á tierra;

24Y echóse á sus pies, y dijo: Señor mío, sobre mí sea el pecado; mas ruégote hable tu sierva en tus oídos, y oye las palabras de tu sierva.

25No ponga ahora mi señor su corazón á aquel hombre brusco, á Nabal; porque conforme á su nombre, así es. El se llama Nabal, y la locura está con él: mas yo tu sierva no vi los criados de mi señor, los cuales tú enviaste.

26Ahora pues, señor mío, vive Jehová y vive tu alma, que Jehová te ha estorbado que vinieses á derramar sangre, y vengarte por tu propia mano. Sean pues como Nabal tus enemigos, y todos los que procuran mal contra mi señor.

27Y ahora esta bendición que tu sierva ha traído á mi señor, dése á los criados que siguen á mi señor.

28Y yo te ruego que perdones á tu sierva esta ofensa; pues Jehová de cierto hará casa firme á mi señor, por cuanto mi señor hace las guerras de Jehová, y mal no se ha hallado en ti en tus días.

29Bien que alguien se haya levantado á perseguirte y atentar á tu vida, con todo, el alma de mi señor será ligada en el haz de los que viven con Jehová Dios tuyo, y él arrojará el alma de tus enemigos como de en medio de la palma de una honda.

30Y acontecerá que cuando Jehová hiciere con mi señor conforme á todo el bien que ha hablado de ti, y te mandare que seas caudillo sobre Israel,

31Entonces, señor mío, no te será esto en tropiezo y turbación de corazón, el que hayas derramado sangre sin causa, ó que mi señor se haya vengado por sí mismo. Guárdese pues mi señor, y cuando Jehová hiciere bien á mi señor, acuérdate de tu sierva.

32Y dijo David á Abigail: Bendito sea Jehová Dios de Israel, que te envió para que hoy me encontrases;

33Y bendito sea tu razonamiento, y bendita tú, que me has estorbado hoy el ir á derramar sangre, y á vengarme por mi propia mano:

34Porque, vive Jehová Dios de Israel que me ha defendido de hacerte mal, que si no te hubieras dado priesa en venirme al encuentro, de aquí á mañana no le quedara á Nabal meante á la pared.

35Y recibió David de su mano lo que le había traído, y díjole: Sube en paz á tu casa, y mira que he oído tu voz, y tenídote respeto.

36Y Abigail se vino á Nabal, y he aquí que él tenía banquete en su casa como banquete de rey: y el corazón de Nabal estaba alegre en él, y estaba muy borracho; por lo que ella no le declaró poco ni mucho, hasta que vino el día siguiente.

37Pero á la mañana, cuando el vino había salido de Nabal, refirióle su mujer aquestas cosas; y se le amorteció el corazón, y quedóse como una piedra.

38Y pasados diez días Jehová hirió á Nabal, y murió.

39Y luego que David oyó que Nabal era muerto, dijo: Bendito sea Jehová que juzgó la causa de mi afrenta recibida de la mano de Nabal, y ha preservado del mal á su siervo; y Jehová ha tornado la malicia de Nabal sobre su propia cabeza. Después envió David á hablar á Abigail, para tomarla por su mujer.

40Y los criados de David vinieron á Abigail en el Carmelo, y hablaron con ella, diciendo: David nos ha enviado á ti, para tomarte por su mujer.

41Y ella se levantó, é inclinó su rostro á tierra, diciendo: He aquí tu sierva, para que sea sierva que lave los pies de los siervos de mi señor.

42Y levantándose luego Abigail con cinco mozas que la seguían, montóse en un asno, y siguió los mensajeros de David, y fué su mujer.

43También tomó David á Ahinoam de Jezreel, y ambas á dos fueron sus mujeres.

44Porque Saúl había dado su hija Michâl mujer de David, á Palti hijo de Lais, que era de Gallim.

King James Version

1And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

3Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

4And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

5And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

6And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

7And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

9And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

18Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

19And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.

22So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

23And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

24And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

25Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

27And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

28I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.

29Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

30And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

31That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

34For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.

36And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

39And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

40And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

41And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

42And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

44But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

World English Bible

1Samuel died; and all Israel gathered themselves together and mourned for him, and buried him at his house at Ramah. Then David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

2There was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.

3Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail. This woman was intelligent and had a beautiful face; but the man was surly and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.

4David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

5David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.

6Tell him, ‘Long life to you! Peace be to you! Peace be to your house! Peace be to all that you have!

7Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds have now been with us, and we didn’t harm them. Nothing was missing from them all the time they were in Carmel.

8Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a good day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

9When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal all those words in the name of David, and waited.

10Nabal answered David’s servants and said, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants who break away from their masters these days.

11Shall I then take my bread, my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who I don’t know where they come from?”

12So David’s young men turned on their way and went back, and came and told him all these words.

13David said to his men, “Every man put on his sword!” Every man put on his sword. David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David, and two hundred stayed by the baggage.

14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master; and he insulted them.

15But the men were very good to us, and we were not harmed, and we didn’t miss anything as long as we went with them, when we were in the fields.

16They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17Now therefore know and consider what you will do; for evil is determined against our master and against all his house, for he is such a worthless fellow that one can’t speak to him.”

18Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two containers of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five seahs of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.

19She said to her young men, “Go on before me. Behold, I am coming after you.” But she didn’t tell her husband, Nabal.

20As she rode on her donkey, and came down hidden by the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.

21Now David had said, “Surely in vain I have kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained to him. He has returned me evil for good.

22God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”

23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got off her donkey, and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground.

24She fell at his feet and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the blame! Please let your servant speak in your ears. Hear the words of your servant.

25Please don’t let my lord pay attention to this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

26Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has withheld you from blood guiltiness and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies and those who seek evil to my lord be as Nabal.

27Now this present which your servant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.

28Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the LORD’s battles. Evil will not be found in you all your days.

29Though men may rise up to pursue you and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord will be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD your God. He will sling out the souls of your enemies as from a sling’s pocket.

30It will come to pass, when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel,

31that this shall be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. When the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

32David said to Abigail, “Blessed is the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me!

33Blessed is your discretion, and blessed are you, who have kept me today from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand.

34For indeed, as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has withheld me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn’t have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”

35So David received from her hand that which she had brought him. Then he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. Behold, I have listened to your voice and have granted your request.”

36Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king. Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. Therefore she told him nothing until the morning light.

37In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal, so that he died.

39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed is the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil. The LORD has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to himself as wife.

40When David’s servants had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife.”

41She arose and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, “Behold, your servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.”

42Abigail hurriedly arose and rode on a donkey with her five maids who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives.

44Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.