¹ And 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.

² And 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.

³ Now 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.

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

⁵ And 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:

⁶ And 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.

⁷ And 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.

⁸ Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favor 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.

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

¹⁰ And 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.

¹¹ Shall 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?

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

¹³ And 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.

¹⁴ But 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.

¹⁵ But 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:

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

¹⁷ Now 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.

¹⁸ Then 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.

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

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

²¹ Now 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.

²² So 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.

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

²⁴ And 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.

²⁵ Let 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.

²⁶ Now 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.

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

²⁸ I 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.

²⁹ Yet 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.

³⁰ And 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;

³¹ That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offense 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.

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

³³ And 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.

³⁴ For 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.

³⁵ So 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.

³⁶ And 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.

³⁷ But 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.

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

³⁹ And 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.

⁴⁰ And 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.

⁴¹ And 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.

⁴² And 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.

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

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

---

¹ And Samuel ^H8050 died; ^H4191 and all the Israelites ^H3478 were gathered together, ^H6908 and lamented ^H5594 him, and buried ^H6912 him in his house ^H1004 at Ramah. ^H7414 And David ^H1732 arose, ^H6965 and went down ^H3381 to the wilderness ^H4057 of Paran. ^H6290

² And there was a man ^H376 in Maon, ^H4584 whose possessions ^H4639 were in Carmel; ^H3760 and the man ^H376 was very ^H3966 great, ^H1419 and he had three ^H7969 thousand ^H505 sheep, ^H6629 and a thousand ^H505 goats: ^H5795 and he was shearing ^H1494 his sheep ^H6629 in Carmel. ^H3760

³ Now the name ^H8034 of the man ^H376 was Nabal; ^H5037 and the name ^H8034 of his wife ^H802 Abigail: ^H26 and she was a woman ^H802 of good ^H2896 understanding, ^H7922 and of a beautiful ^H3303 countenance: ^H8389 but the man ^H376 was churlish ^H7186 and evil ^H7451 in his doings; ^H4611 and he was of the house of Caleb. ^H3614

⁴ And David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 in the wilderness ^H4057 that Nabal ^H5037 did shear ^H1494 his sheep. ^H6629

⁵ And David ^H1732 sent out ^H7971 ten ^H6235 young men, ^H5288 and David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto the young men, ^H5288 Get you up ^H5927 to Carmel, ^H3760 and go ^H935 to Nabal, ^H5037 and greet ^{H7592 H7965} him in my name: ^H8034

⁶ And thus shall ye say ^H559 to him that liveth ^H2416 in prosperity, Peace ^H7965 be both to thee, and peace ^H7965 be to thine house, ^H1004 and peace ^H7965 be unto all that thou hast.

⁷ And now I have heard ^H8085 that thou hast shearers: ^H1494 now thy shepherds ^H7462 which were with us, we hurt ^H3637 them not, neither was there ought ^H3972 missing ^H6485 unto them, all the while ^H3117 they were in Carmel. ^H3760

⁸ Ask ^H7592 thy young men, ^H5288 and they will shew ^H5046 thee. Wherefore let the young men ^H5288 find ^H4672 favour ^H2580 in thine eyes: ^H5869 for we come ^H935 in a good ^H2896 day: ^H3117 give, ^H5414 I pray thee, whatsoever cometh ^H4672 to thine hand ^H3027 unto thy servants, ^H5650 and to thy son ^H1121 David. ^H1732

⁹ And when David's ^H1732 young men ^H5288 came, ^H935 they spake ^H1696 to Nabal ^H5037 according to all those words ^H1697 in the name ^H8034 of David, ^H1732 and ceased. ^H5117

¹⁰ And Nabal ^H5037 answered ^H6030 David's ^H1732 servants, ^H5650 and said, ^H559 Who is David? ^H1732 and who is the son ^H1121 of Jesse? ^H3448 there be many ^H7231 servants ^H5650 now a days ^H3117 that break away ^H6555 every man ^H376 from ^H6440 his master. ^H113

¹¹ Shall I then take ^H3947 my bread, ^H3899 and my water, ^H4325 and my flesh ^H2878 that I have killed ^H2873 for my shearers, ^H1494 and give ^H5414 it unto men, ^H582 whom I know ^H3045 not whence they be?

¹² So David's ^H1732 young men ^H5288 turned ^H2015 their way, ^H1870 and went again, ^H7725 and came ^H935 and told ^H5046 him all those sayings. ^H1697

¹³ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto his men, ^H582 Gird ye on ^H2296 every man ^H376 his sword. ^H2719 And they girded on ^H2296 every man ^H376 his sword; ^H2719 and David ^H1732 also girded on ^H2296 his sword: ^H2719 and there went up ^H5927 after ^H310 David ^H1732 about four ^H702 hundred ^H3967 men; ^H376 and two hundred ^H3967 abode ^H3427 by the stuff. ^H3627

¹⁴ But one ^H259 of the young men ^H5288 told ^H5046 Abigail, ^H26 Nabal's ^H5037 wife, ^H802 saying, ^H559 Behold, David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 out of the wilderness ^H4057 to salute ^H1288 our master; ^H113 and he railed ^H5860 on them.

¹⁵ But the men ^H582 were very ^H3966 good ^H2896 unto us, and we were not hurt, ^H3637 neither missed ^H6485 we any thing, ^H3972 as long as ^H3117 we were conversant ^H1980 with them, when we were in the fields: ^H7704

¹⁶ They were a wall ^H2346 unto us both by night ^H3915 and day, ^H3119 all the while ^H3117 we were with them keeping ^H7462 the sheep. ^H6629

¹⁷ Now therefore know ^H3045 and consider ^H7200 what thou wilt do; ^H6213 for evil ^H7451 is determined ^H3615 against our master, ^H113 and against all his household: ^H1004 for he is such a son ^H1121 of Belial, ^H1100 that a man cannot speak ^H1696 to him.

¹⁸ Then Abigail ^H26 made haste, ^H4116 and took ^H3947 two hundred ^H3967 loaves, ^H3899 and two ^H8147 bottles ^H5035 of wine, ^H3196 and five ^H2568 sheep ^H6629 ready dressed, ^H6213 and five ^H2568 measures ^H5429 of parched ^H7039 corn, and an hundred ^H3967 clusters of raisins, ^H6778 and two hundred ^H3967 cakes ^H1690 of figs, and laid ^H7760 them on asses. ^H2543

¹⁹ And she said ^H559 unto her servants, ^H5288 Go on ^H5674 before ^H6440 me; behold, I come ^H935 after ^H310 you. But she told ^H5046 not her husband ^H376 Nabal. ^H5037

²⁰ And it was so, as she rode ^H7392 on the ass, ^H2543 that she came down ^H3381 by the covert ^H5643 of the hill, ^H2022 and, behold, David ^H1732 and his men ^H582 came down ^H3381 against ^H7125 her; and she met ^H6298 them.

²¹ Now David ^H1732 had said, ^H559 Surely in vain ^H8267 have I kept ^H8104 all that this ^H2088 fellow hath in the wilderness, ^H4057 so that nothing ^H3972 was missed ^H6485 of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited ^H7725 me evil ^H7451 for good. ^H2896

²² So ^H3541 and more ^H3254 also do ^H6213 God ^H430 unto the enemies ^H341 of David, ^H1732 if I leave ^H7604 of all that pertain to him by ^H5704 the morning ^H1242 light ^H216 any that pisseth ^H8366 against the wall. ^H7023

²³ And when Abigail ^H26 saw ^H7200 David, ^H1732 she hasted, ^H4116 and lighted off ^H3381 the ass, ^H2543 and fell ^H5307 before ^H639 David ^H1732 on her face, ^H6440 and bowed ^H7812 herself to the ground, ^H776

²⁴ And fell ^H5307 at his feet, ^H7272 and said, ^H559 Upon me, my lord, ^H113 upon me let this iniquity ^H5771 be: and let thine handmaid, ^H519 I pray thee, speak ^H1696 in thine audience, ^H241 and hear ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of thine handmaid. ^H589

²⁵ Let ^H7760 not my lord, ^H113 I pray thee, regard ^H3820 this man ^H376 of Belial, ^H1100 even Nabal: ^H5037 for as his name ^H8034 is, so is he; Nabal ^H5037 is his name, ^H8034 and folly ^H5039 is with him: but I thine handmaid ^H519 saw ^H7200 not the young men ^H5288 of my lord, ^H113 whom thou didst send. ^H7971

²⁶ Now therefore, my lord, ^H113 as the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 and as thy soul ^H5315 liveth, ^H2416 seeing the LORD ^H3068 hath withholden ^H4513 thee from coming ^H935 to shed blood, ^H1818 and from avenging ^H3467 thyself with thine own hand, ^H3027 now let thine enemies, ^H341 and they that seek ^H1245 evil ^H7451 to my lord, ^H113 be as Nabal. ^H5037

²⁷ And now this blessing ^H1293 which thine handmaid ^H8198 hath brought ^H935 unto my lord, ^H113 let it even be given ^H5414 unto the young men ^H5288 that follow ^{H1980 H7272} my lord. ^H113

²⁸ I pray thee, forgive ^H5375 the trespass ^H6588 of thine handmaid: ^H519 for the LORD ^H3068 will certainly ^H6213 make ^H6213 my lord ^H113 a sure ^H539 house; ^H1004 because my lord ^H113 fighteth ^H3898 the battles ^H4421 of the LORD, ^H3068 and evil ^H7451 hath not been found ^H4672 in thee all thy days. ^H3117

²⁹ Yet a man ^H120 is risen ^H6965 to pursue ^H7291 thee, and to seek ^H1245 thy soul: ^H5315 but the soul ^H5315 of my lord ^H113 shall be bound ^H6887 in the bundle ^H6872 of life ^H2416 with the LORD ^H3068 thy God; ^H430 and the souls ^H5315 of thine enemies, ^H341 them shall he sling out, ^H7049 as out of the middle ^{H8432 H3709} of a sling. ^H7050

³⁰ And it shall come to pass, when the LORD ^H3068 shall have done ^H6213 to my lord ^H113 according to all the good ^H2896 that he hath spoken ^H1696 concerning thee, and shall have appointed ^H6680 thee ruler ^H5057 over Israel; ^H3478

³¹ That this shall be no grief ^H6330 unto thee, nor offence ^H4383 of heart ^H3820 unto my lord, ^H113 either that thou hast shed ^H8210 blood ^H1818 causeless, ^H2600 or that my lord ^H113 hath avenged ^H3467 himself: but when the LORD ^H3068 shall have dealt well ^H3190 with my lord, ^H113 then remember ^H2142 thine handmaid. ^H519

³² And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Abigail, ^H26 Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel, ^H3478 which sent ^H7971 thee this day ^H3117 to meet ^H7125 me:

³³ And blessed ^H1288 be thy advice, ^H2940 and blessed ^H1288 be thou, which hast kept ^H3607 me this day ^H3117 from coming ^H935 to shed blood, ^H1818 and from avenging ^H3467 myself with mine own hand. ^H3027

³⁴ For in very deed, ^H199 as the LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478 liveth, ^H2416 which hath kept me back ^H4513 from hurting ^H7489 thee, except ^H3884 thou hadst hasted ^H4116 and come ^H935 to meet ^H7125 me, surely there had not been left ^H3498 unto Nabal ^H5037 by the morning ^H1242 light ^H216 any that pisseth ^H8366 against the wall. ^H7023

³⁵ So David ^H1732 received ^H3947 of her hand ^H3027 that which she had brought ^H935 him, and said ^H559 unto her, Go up ^H5927 in peace ^H7965 to thine house; ^H1004 see, ^H7200 I have hearkened ^H8085 to thy voice, ^H6963 and have accepted ^H5375 thy person. ^H6440

³⁶ And Abigail ^H26 came ^H935 to Nabal; ^H5037 and, behold, he held a feast ^H4960 in his house, ^H1004 like the feast ^H4960 of a king; ^H4428 and Nabal's ^H5037 heart ^H3820 was merry ^H2896 within him, for he was very ^H3966 drunken: ^H7910 wherefore she told ^H5046 him nothing, ^H1697 less ^H6996 or more, ^H1419 until the morning ^H1242 light. ^H216

³⁷ But it came to pass in the morning, ^H1242 when the wine ^H3196 was gone out ^H3318 of Nabal, ^H5037 and his wife ^H802 had told ^H5046 him these things, ^H1697 that his heart ^H3820 died ^H4191 within ^H7130 him, and he became as a stone. ^H68

³⁸ And it came to pass about ten ^H6235 days ^H3117 after, that the LORD ^H3068 smote ^H5062 Nabal, ^H5037 that he died. ^H4191

³⁹ And when David ^H1732 heard ^H8085 that Nabal ^H5037 was dead, ^H4191 he said, ^H559 Blessed ^H1288 be the LORD, ^H3068 that hath pleaded ^H7378 the cause ^H7379 of my reproach ^H2781 from the hand ^H3027 of Nabal, ^H5037 and hath kept ^H2820 his servant ^H5650 from evil: ^H7451 for the LORD ^H3068 hath returned ^H7725 the wickedness ^H7451 of Nabal ^H5037 upon his own head. ^H7218 And David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 and communed ^H1696 with Abigail, ^H26 to take ^H3947 her to him to wife. ^H802

⁴⁰ And when the servants ^H5650 of David ^H1732 were come ^H935 to Abigail ^H26 to Carmel, ^H3760 they spake ^H1696 unto her, saying, ^H559 David ^H1732 sent ^H7971 us unto thee, to take ^H3947 thee to him to wife. ^H802

⁴¹ And she arose, ^H6965 and bowed ^H7812 herself on her face ^H639 to the earth, ^H776 and said, ^H559 Behold, let thine handmaid ^H519 be a servant ^H8198 to wash ^H7364 the feet ^H7272 of the servants ^H5650 of my lord. ^H113

⁴² And Abigail ^H26 hasted, ^H4116 and arose, ^H6965 and rode ^H7392 upon an ass, ^H2543 with five ^H2568 damsels ^H5291 of hers that went ^H1980 after ^H7272 her; and she went ^H3212 after ^H310 the messengers ^H4397 of David, ^H1732 and became his wife. ^H802

⁴³ David ^H1732 also took ^H3947 Ahinoam ^H293 of Jezreel; ^H3157 and they were also both ^H8147 of them his wives. ^H802

⁴⁴ But Saul ^H7586 had given ^H5414 Michal ^H4324 his daughter, ^H1323 David's ^H1732 wife, ^H802 to Phalti ^H6406 the son ^H1121 of Laish, ^H3919 which was of Gallim. ^H1554

---

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

² And 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.

³ Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was 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.

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

⁵ And David sent 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:

⁶ and thus shall ye say to him that liveth `in prosperity', Peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

⁷ And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: thy shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

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

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

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

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

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

¹³ And 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 baggage.

¹⁴ But 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 at them.

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

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

¹⁷ Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house: for he is such a worthless fellow, that one cannot speak to him.

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

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

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

²¹ Now 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 returned me evil for good.

²² God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one man-child.

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

²⁴ And she fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity; and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid.

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

²⁶ Now therefore, my lord, as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing Jehovah hath withholden thee from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now therefore let thine enemies, and them that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

²⁷ And now this present which thy servant hath brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

²⁸ Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of thy handmaid: for Jehovah will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of Jehovah; and evil shall not be found in thee all thy days.

²⁹ And though men be risen up to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Jehovah thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as from the hollow of a sling.

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

³¹ that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.

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

³³ and blessed be thy discretion, and blessed be thou, that hast kept me this day from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

³⁴ For in very deed, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, who hath withholden me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light so much as one man-child.

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

³⁶ And 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.

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

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

³⁹ And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Jehovah, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept back his servant from evil: and the evil-doing of Nabal hath Jehovah returned upon his own head. And David sent and spake concerning Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

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

⁴¹ And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, thy handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

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

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

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

---

¹ And Samuel dieth, and all Israel are gathered, and mourn for him, and bury him in his house, in Ramah; and David riseth and goeth down unto the wilderness of Paran.

² And `there is' a man in Maon, and his work `is' in Carmel; and the man `is' very great, and he hath three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats; and he is shearing his flock in Carmel.

³ And the name of the man `is' Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail, and the woman `is' of good understanding, and of fair form, and the man `is' hard and evil `in' doings; and he `is' a Calebite.

⁴ And David heareth in the wilderness that Nabal is shearing his flock,

⁵ and David sendeth ten young men, and David saith to the young men, `Go ye up to Carmel, and ye have come in unto Nabal, and asked of him in my name of welfare,

⁶ and said thus: To life! and thou, peace; and thy house, peace; and all that thou hast -- peace!

⁷ and, now, I have heard that thou hast shearers; now, the shepherds whom thou hast have been with us, we have not put them to shame, nor hath anything been looked after by them, all the days of their being in Carmel.

⁸ `Ask thy young men, and they declare to thee, and the young men find grace in thine eyes, for on a good day we have come; give, I pray thee, that which thy hand findeth, to thy servants, and to thy son, to David.'

⁹ And the young men of David come in, and speak unto Nabal according to all these words, in the name of David -- and rest.

¹⁰ And Nabal answereth the servants of David and saith, `Who `is' David, and who the son of Jesse? to-day have servants been multiplied who are breaking away each from his master;

¹¹ and I have taken my bread, and my water, and my flesh, which I slaughtered for my shearers, and have given `it' to men whom I have not known whence they `are'!'

¹² And the young men of David turn on their way, and turn back, and come in, and declare to him according to all these words.

¹³ And David saith to his men, `Gird ye on each his sword;' and they gird on each his sword, and David also girdeth on his sword, and there go up after David about four hundred men, and two hundred have remained by the vessels.

¹⁴ And to Abigail wife of Nabal hath one young man of the youths declared, saying, `Lo, David hath sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our lord, and he flieth upon them;

¹⁵ and the men `are' very good to us, and have not put us to shame, and we have not looked after anything all the days we have gone up and down with them, in our being in the field;

¹⁶ a wall they have been unto us both by night and by day, all the days of our being with them, feeding the flock.

¹⁷ `And, now, know and consider what thou dost; for evil hath been determined against our lord, and against all his house, and he `is' too much a son of worthlessness to be spoken to.'

¹⁸ And Abigail hasteth, and taketh two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep, prepared, and five measures of roasted corn, and a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred bunches of figs, and setteth `them' on the asses.

¹⁹ And she saith to her young men, `Pass over before me; lo, after you I am coming;' and to her husband Nabal she hath not declared `it';

²⁰ and it hath come to pass, she is riding on the ass and is coming down in the secret part of the hill-country, and lo, David and his men are coming down to meet her, and she meeteth them.

²¹ And David said, `Only, in vain I have kept all that this `one' hath in the wilderness, and nothing hath been looked after of all that he hath, and he turneth back to me evil for good;

²² thus doth God do to the enemies of David, and thus He doth add, if I leave of all that he hath till the light of the morning -- of those sitting on the wall.'

²³ And Abigail seeth David, and hasteth and cometh down from off the ass, and falleth before David on her face, and boweth herself to the earth,

²⁴ and falleth at his feet and saith, `On me, my lord, the iniquity; and let, I pray thee, thy handmaid speak in thine ear, and hear the words of thy handmaid.

²⁵ `Let not, I pray thee, my lord set his heart to this man of worthlessness, on Nabal, for as his name `is' so `is' he; Nabal `is' his name, and folly `is' with him; and I, thine handmaid, did not see the young men of my lord whom thou didst send;

²⁶ and now, my lord, Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, in that Jehovah hath withheld thee from coming in with blood, and to save thy hand to thee -- now let thine enemies be as Nabal, even those seeking evil unto my lord.

²⁷ `And, now, this blessing which thy maid-servant hath brought to my lord -- it hath been given to the young men who are going up and down at the feet of my lord.

²⁸ `Bear, I pray thee, with the transgression of thy handmaid, for Jehovah doth certainly make to my lord a stedfast house; for the battles of Jehovah hath my lord fought, and evil is not found in thee `all' thy days.

²⁹ And man riseth to pursue thee and to seek thy soul, and the soul of my lord hath been bound in the bundle of life with Jehovah thy God; as to the soul of thine enemies, He doth sling them out in the midst of the hollow of the sling.

³⁰ `And it hath been, when Jehovah doth to my lord according to all the good which He hath spoken concerning thee, and appointed thee for leader over Israel,

³¹ that this is not to thee for a stumbling-block, and for an offence of heart to my lord -- either to shed blood for nought, or my lord's restraining himself; and Jehovah hath done good to my lord, and thou hast remembered thy handmaid.'

³² And David saith to Abigail, `Blessed `is' Jehovah, God of Israel, who hath sent thee this day to meet me,

³³ and blessed `is' thy discretion, and blessed `art' thou in that thou hast restrained me this day from coming in with blood, and to restrain my hand to myself.

³⁴ And yet, Jehovah liveth, God of Israel, who hath kept me back from doing evil with thee, for unless thou hadst hasted, and dost come to meet me, surely there had not been left to Nabal till the light of the morning, of those sitting on the wall.'

³⁵ And David receiveth from her hand that which she hath brought to him, and to her he hath said, `Go up in peace to thy house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and accept thy face.'

³⁶ And Abigail cometh in unto Nabal, and lo, he hath a banquet in his house, like a banquet of the king, and the heart of Nabal `is' glad within him, and he `is' drunk unto excess, and she hath not declared to him anything, less or more, till the light of the morning.

³⁷ And it cometh to pass in the morning, when the wine is gone out from Nabal, that his wife declareth to him these things, and his heart dieth within him, and he hath been as a stone.

³⁸ And it cometh to pass, `in' about ten days, that Jehovah smiteth Nabal, and he dieth,

³⁹ and David heareth that Nabal `is' dead, and saith, `Blessed `is' Jehovah who hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and His servant hath kept back from evil, and the wickedness of Nabal hath Jehovah turned back on his own head;' and David sendeth and speaketh with Abigail, to take her to him for a wife.

⁴⁰ And the servants of David come in unto Abigail at Carmel, and speak unto her, saying, `David hath sent us unto thee to take thee to him for a wife.'

⁴¹ And she riseth and boweth herself -- face to the earth -- and saith, `Lo, thy handmaid `is' for a maid-servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.'

⁴² And Abigail hasteth and riseth, and rideth on the ass; and five of her young women who are going at her feet; and she goeth after the messengers of David, and is to him for a wife.

⁴³ And Ahinoam hath David taken from Jezreel, and they are -- even both of them -- to him for wives;

⁴⁴ and Saul gave Michal his daughter, wife to David, to Phalti son of Laish, who `is' of Gallim.

---

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

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

³ And the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was a Calebite.

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

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

⁶ And thus shall ye say: Long life [to thee]! and peace be to thee, and peace be to thy house, and peace be to all that thou hast!

⁷ And now I have heard that thou hast shearers; now thy shepherds who were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missed by them, all the while they were in Carmel.

⁸ Ask thy young men, and they will tell thee. Therefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes; for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, what thy hand may find to thy servants, and to thy son David.

⁹ And David's young men came, and spoke to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

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

¹¹ And shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh which I have killed for my shearers, and give [it] to men whom I know not whence they are?

¹² And David's young men turned their way, and went back, and came and reported to him according to all those words.

¹³ And David said to 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 baggage.

¹⁴ And one of [Nabal's] young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our master; and he has insulted them.

¹⁵ And the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we companied with them, when we were in the fields.

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

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

¹⁸ And Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two skin-bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched [corn], and a hundred raisin-cakes, and two hundred fig-cakes, and laid them on asses.

¹⁹ And she said to her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

²⁰ And as she was riding on the ass, and coming down by the covert of the hill, behold, David and his men came down opposite to her; and she met them.

²¹ Now David had said, Surely, in vain have I kept all that this [man] had in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that was his; and he has requited me evil for good.

²² So and more also do God to the enemies of David, if I leave of all that is his by the morning light any male.

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

²⁴ and fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, [upon] me let the iniquity be; but let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear the words of thy handmaid.

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

²⁶ And now, my lord, [as] Jehovah liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, seeing Jehovah has restrained thee from coming with bloodshed, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

²⁷ And now this blessing which thy bondmaid has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men that follow my lord.

²⁸ I pray thee, forgive the transgression of thy handmaid: for Jehovah will certainly make my lord a lasting house; because my lord fights the battles of Jehovah, and evil has not been found in thee all thy days.

²⁹ And if a man is risen up to pursue thee and to seek thy life, the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with Jehovah thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out from the hollow of the sling.

³⁰ And it shall come to pass, when Jehovah shall do to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning thee, and shall appoint thee ruler over Israel,

³¹ that this shall be no stumbling-block to thee, nor offence of heart for my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall deal well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.

³² And David said to Abigail, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me.

³³ And blessed be thy discernment, and blessed be thou, who hast kept me this day from coming with bloodshed, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

³⁴ But indeed, as Jehovah the God of Israel liveth, who has restrained me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, there had not been left to Nabal by the morning light any male.

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

³⁶ And 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 drunken to excess; so she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

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

³⁸ And it came to pass in about ten days that Jehovah smote Nabal, and he died.

³⁹ And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Jehovah, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil; but Jehovah has returned Nabal's evil upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her as his wife.

⁴⁰ And the servants of David came to Abigail to Carmel, and spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to thee, to take thee as his wife.

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

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

⁴³ David had also taken Ahinoam of Jizreel; and they became, even both of them, his wives.

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

---

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

² 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.

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

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

⁵ David 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:

⁶ and thus shall you tell him who lives [in prosperity], Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.

⁷ Now I have heard that you have shearers: your shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there anything missing to them, all the while they were in Carmel.

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

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

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

¹¹ Shall I then take my bread, and 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?

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

¹³ David said to his men, Gird you on every man his sword. 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 baggage.

¹⁴ But 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 railed at them.

¹⁵ But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we went with them, when we were in the fields:

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

¹⁷ Now 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.

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

¹⁹ She said to her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she didn't tell her husband, Nabal.

²⁰ It was so, as she rode on her donkey, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.

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

²² God 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 man-child.

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

²⁴ She fell at his feet, and said, On me, my lord, on me be the iniquity; and please let your handmaid speak in your ears. Hear the words of your handmaid.

²⁵ Please don't let my lord regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I your handmaid didn't see the young men of my lord, whom you did send.

²⁶ Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, seeing Yahweh 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.

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

²⁸ Please forgive the trespass of your handmaid: for Yahweh will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of Yahweh; and evil shall not be found in you all your days.

²⁹ Though men be risen up to pursue you, and to seek your soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Yahweh your God; and the souls of your enemies, them shall he sling out, as from the hollow of a sling.

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

³¹ that 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 Yahweh shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.

³² David said to Abigail, Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me:

³³ and blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, that have kept me this day from blood guiltiness, and from avenging myself with my own hand.

³⁴ For in very deed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from hurting you, except 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 man-child.

³⁵ So David received of her hand that which she had brought him: and he said to her, Go up in peace to your house; behold, I have listened to your voice, and have accepted your person.

³⁶ 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: therefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

³⁷ It happened in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

³⁸ It happened about ten days after, that Yahweh struck Nabal, so that he died.

³⁹ When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil: and the evil-doing of Nabal has Yahweh returned on his own head. David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to him as wife.

⁴⁰ When the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife.

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

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

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

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

---

¹ And death came to Samuel; and all Israel came together, weeping for him, and put his body in its resting-place in his house at Ramah. Then David went down to the waste land of Maon.

² Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel; he was a great man and had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats: and he was cutting the wool of his sheep in Carmel.

³ Now this man was named Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail: she was a woman of good sense and pleasing looks: but the man was cruel and evil in his ways; he was of the family of Caleb.

⁴ And David had word in the waste land that Nabal was cutting the wool of his sheep.

⁵ And David sent ten young men, and said to them, Go up to Carmel and go to Nabal, and say kind words to him in my name;

⁶ And say this to my brother, May all be well for you: peace be to you and your house and all you have.

⁷ I have had word that you have wool-cutters: now the keepers of your sheep have been with us, and we have done them no evil, and taken nothing of theirs while they were in Carmel.

⁸ If your young men are questioned they will say the same thing. So now, let my young men have grace in your eyes, for we are come at a good time; please give anything you may have by you to your servants and to your son David.

⁹ And when David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal, in David's name, and said nothing more.

¹⁰ And Nabal gave them his answer and said, Who is David? who is the son of Jesse? there are a number of servants in these days running away from their masters.

¹¹ Am I to take my bread and my wine and the meat I have got ready for my wool-cutters and give it to men coming from I have no idea where?

¹² So David's young men, turning away, went back and gave him an account of everything he had said.

¹³ And David said to his men, Put on your swords, every one of you. And every man put on his sword; and David did the same; and about four hundred men went up with David, and two hundred kept watch over their goods.

¹⁴ But one of the young men said to Nabal's wife Abigail, David sent men from the waste land to say kind words to our master, and he gave them a rough answer.

¹⁵ But these men have been very good to us; they did us no wrong and nothing of ours was touched while we were with them in the fields:

¹⁶ But day and night they were like a wall round us while we were with them, looking after the sheep.

¹⁷ So now, give thought to what you are going to do; for evil is in store for our master and all his house: for he is such a good-for-nothing person that it is not possible to say anything to him.

¹⁸ Then Abigail quickly took two hundred cakes of bread and two skins full of wine and five sheep ready for cooking and five measures of dry grain and a hundred parcels of dry grapes and two hundred cakes of figs, and put them on asses.

¹⁹ And she said to her young men, Go on in front of me and I will come after you. But she said nothing to her husband Nabal.

²⁰ Now while she was going down under cover of the mountain on her ass, David and his men came down against her, and suddenly she came face to face with them.

²¹ Now David had said, What was the use of my taking care of this man's goods in the waste land, so that there was no loss of anything which was his? he has only given me back evil for good.

²² May God's punishment be on David, if when morning comes there is so much as one male of his people still living.

²³ And when Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her ass, falling down on her face before him.

²⁴ And falling at his feet she said, May the wrong be on me, my lord, on me: let your servant say a word to you, and give ear to the words of your servant.

²⁵ Let my lord give no attention to Nabal, that good-for-nothing: for as his name is, so is he, a man without sense: but I, your servant, did not see the young men whom my lord sent.

²⁶ So now, my lord, by the living God and by your living soul, seeing that the Lord has kept you from the crime of blood and from taking into your hands the punishment for your wrongs, may all your haters, and those who would do evil to my lord, be like Nabal.

²⁷ And let this offering, which your servant gives to my lord, be given to the young men who are with my lord.

²⁸ And may the sin of your servant have forgiveness: for the Lord will certainly make your family strong, because my lord is fighting in the Lord's war; and no evil will be seen in you all your days.

²⁹ And though a man has taken up arms against you, putting your life in danger, still the soul of my lord will be kept safe among the band of the living with the Lord your God; and the souls of those who are against you he will send violently away from him, like stones from a bag.

³⁰ And when the Lord has done for my lord all those good things which he has said he will do for you, and has made you a ruler over Israel;

³¹ Then you will have no cause for grief, and my lord's heart will not be troubled because you have taken life without cause and have yourself given punishment for your wrongs: and when the Lord has been good to you, then give a thought to your servant.

³² And David said to Abigail, May the Lord, the God of Israel, be praised, who sent you to me today:

³³ A blessing on your good sense and on you, who have kept me today from the crime of blood and from taking into my hands the punishment for my wrongs.

³⁴ For truly, by the living Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from doing you evil, if you had not been so quick in coming to me and meeting me, by dawn there would not have been in Nabal's house so much as one male living.

³⁵ Then David took from her hands her offering: and he said to her, Go back to your house in peace; see, I have given ear to your voice, and taken your offering with respect.

³⁶ And Abigail went back to Nabal; and he was feasting in his house like a king; and Nabal's heart was full of joy, for he had taken much wine; so she said nothing to him till dawn came.

³⁷ And in the morning, when the effect of the wine was gone, Nabal's wife gave him an account of all these things, and all the heart went out of him, and he became like stone.

³⁸ And about ten days after, the Lord sent disease on Nabal and death came to him.

³⁹ And David, hearing that Nabal was dead, said, May the Lord be praised, who has taken up my cause against Nabal for the shame which he put on me, and has kept back his servant from evil, and has sent on Nabal's head the reward of his evil-doing. And David sent word to Abigail, desiring to take her as his wife.

⁴⁰ And when David's servants came to Carmel, to Abigail, they said to her, David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.

⁴¹ And she got up, and going down on her face to the earth, said, See, I am ready to be a servant-girl, washing the feet of the servants of my lord.

⁴² Then Abigail got up quickly and went on her ass, with five of her young women, after the men whom David had sent; and she became David's wife.

⁴³ And David had taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, to be his wife; these two were his wives.

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