1 And Samuel{H8050} died{H4191}{(H8799)}; and all the Israelites{H3478} were gathered together{H6908}{(H8735)}, and lamented{H5594}{(H8799)} him, and buried{H6912}{(H8799)} him in his house{H1004} at Ramah{H7414}. And David{H1732} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and went down{H3381}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8800)} 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}{(H8799)} in the wilderness{H4057} that Nabal{H5037} did shear{H1494}{(H8802)} his sheep{H6629}.

5 And David{H1732} sent out{H7971}{(H8799)} ten{H6235} young men{H5288}, and David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the young men{H5288}, Get you up{H5927}{(H8798)} to Carmel{H3760}, and go{H935}{(H8804)} to Nabal{H5037}, and greet{H7592}{(H8804)}{H7965} him in my name{H8034}:

6 And thus shall ye say{H559}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8804)} that thou hast shearers{H1494}{(H8802)}: now thy shepherds{H7462}{(H8802)} which were with us, we hurt{H3637}{(H8689)} them not, neither was there ought{H3972} missing{H6485}{(H8738)} unto them, all the while{H3117} they were in Carmel{H3760}.

8 Ask{H7592}{(H8798)} thy young men{H5288}, and they will shew{H5046}{(H8686)} thee. Wherefore let the young men{H5288} find{H4672}{(H8799)} favour{H2580} in thine eyes{H5869}: for we come{H935}{(H8804)} in a good{H2896} day{H3117}: give{H5414}{(H8798)}, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh{H4672}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8799)}, they spake{H1696}{(H8762)} to Nabal{H5037} according to all those words{H1697} in the name{H8034} of David{H1732}, and ceased{H5117}{(H8799)}.

10 And Nabal{H5037} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} David's{H1732} servants{H5650}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Who is David{H1732}? and who is the son{H1121} of Jesse{H3448}? there be many{H7231}{(H8804)} servants{H5650} now a days{H3117} that break away{H6555}{(H8693)} every man{H376} from{H6440} his master{H113}.

11 Shall I then take{H3947}{(H8804)} my bread{H3899}, and my water{H4325}, and my flesh{H2878} that I have killed{H2873}{(H8804)} for my shearers{H1494}{(H8802)}, and give{H5414}{(H8804)} it unto men{H582}, whom I know{H3045}{(H8804)} not whence they be?

12 So David's{H1732} young men{H5288} turned{H2015}{(H8799)} their way{H1870}, and went again{H7725}{(H8799)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} and told{H5046}{(H8686)} him all those sayings{H1697}.

13 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his men{H582}, Gird ye on{H2296}{(H8798)} every man{H376} his sword{H2719}. And they girded on{H2296}{(H8799)} every man{H376} his sword{H2719}; and David{H1732} also girded on{H2296}{(H8799)} his sword{H2719}: and there went up{H5927}{(H8799)} after{H310} David{H1732} about four{H702} hundred{H3967} men{H376}; and two hundred{H3967} abode{H3427}{(H8804)} by the stuff{H3627}.

14 But one{H259} of the young men{H5288} told{H5046}{(H8689)} Abigail{H26}, Nabal's{H5037} wife{H802}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold, David{H1732} sent{H7971}{(H8804)} messengers{H4397} out of the wilderness{H4057} to salute{H1288}{(H8763)} our master{H113}; and he railed{H5860}{(H8799)} on them.

15 But the men{H582} were very{H3966} good{H2896} unto us, and we were not hurt{H3637}{(H8717)}, neither missed{H6485}{(H8804)} we any thing{H3972}, as long as{H3117} we were conversant{H1980}{(H8694)} 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}{(H8802)} the sheep{H6629}.

17 Now therefore know{H3045}{(H8798)} and consider{H7200}{(H8798)} what thou wilt do{H6213}{(H8799)}; for evil{H7451} is determined{H3615}{(H8804)} 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}{(H8763)} to him.

18 Then Abigail{H26} made haste{H4116}{(H8762)}, and took{H3947}{(H8799)} two hundred{H3967} loaves{H3899}, and two{H8147} bottles{H5035} of wine{H3196}, and five{H2568} sheep{H6629} ready dressed{H6213}{(H8803)}, 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}{(H8799)} them on asses{H2543}.

19 And she said{H559}{(H8799)} unto her servants{H5288}, Go on{H5674}{(H8798)} before{H6440} me; behold, I come{H935}{(H8802)} after{H310} you. But she told{H5046}{(H8689)} not her husband{H376} Nabal{H5037}.

20 And it was so, as she rode{H7392}{(H8802)} on the ass{H2543}, that she came down{H3381}{(H8802)} by the covert{H5643} of the hill{H2022}, and, behold, David{H1732} and his men{H582} came down{H3381}{(H8802)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} her; and she met{H6298}{(H8799)} them.

21 Now David{H1732} had said{H559}{(H8804)}, Surely in vain{H8267} have I kept{H8104}{(H8804)} all that this{H2088} fellow hath in the wilderness{H4057}, so that nothing{H3972} was missed{H6485}{(H8738)} of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited{H7725}{(H8686)} me evil{H7451} for good{H2896}.

22 So{H3541} and more{H3254}{(H8686)} also do{H6213}{(H8799)} God{H430} unto the enemies{H341}{(H8802)} of David{H1732}, if I leave{H7604}{(H8686)} of all that pertain to him by{H5704} the morning{H1242} light{H216} any that pisseth{H8366}{(H8688)} against the wall{H7023}.

23 And when Abigail{H26} saw{H7200}{(H8799)} David{H1732}, she hasted{H4116}{(H8762)}, and lighted off{H3381}{(H8799)} the ass{H2543}, and fell{H5307}{(H8799)} before{H639} David{H1732} on her face{H6440}, and bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} herself to the ground{H776},

24 And fell{H5307}{(H8799)} at his feet{H7272}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Upon me, my lord{H113}, upon me let this iniquity{H5771} be: and let thine handmaid{H519}, I pray thee, speak{H1696}{(H8762)} in thine audience{H241}, and hear{H8085}{(H8798)} the words{H1697} of thine handmaid{H589}.

25 Let{H7760}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8804)} not the young men{H5288} of my lord{H113}, whom thou didst send{H7971}{(H8804)}.

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}{(H8804)} thee from coming{H935}{(H8800)} to shed blood{H1818}, and from avenging{H3467}{(H8687)} thyself with thine own hand{H3027}, now let thine enemies{H341}{(H8802)}, and they that seek{H1245}{(H8764)} evil{H7451} to my lord{H113}, be as Nabal{H5037}.

27 And now this blessing{H1293} which thine handmaid{H8198} hath brought{H935}{(H8689)} unto my lord{H113}, let it even be given{H5414}{(H8738)} unto the young men{H5288} that follow{H1980}{(H8693)}{H7272} my lord{H113}.

28 I pray thee, forgive{H5375}{(H8798)} the trespass{H6588} of thine handmaid{H519}: for the LORD{H3068} will certainly{H6213}{(H8800)} make{H6213}{(H8799)} my lord{H113} a sure{H539}{(H8737)} house{H1004}; because my lord{H113} fighteth{H3898}{(H8737)} the battles{H4421} of the LORD{H3068}, and evil{H7451} hath not been found{H4672}{(H8735)} in thee all thy days{H3117}.

29 Yet a man{H120} is risen{H6965}{(H8799)} to pursue{H7291}{(H8800)} thee, and to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} thy soul{H5315}: but the soul{H5315} of my lord{H113} shall be bound{H6887}{(H8803)} in the bundle{H6872} of life{H2416} with the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}; and the souls{H5315} of thine enemies{H341}{(H8802)}, them shall he sling out{H7049}{(H8762)}, 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}{(H8799)} to my lord{H113} according to all the good{H2896} that he hath spoken{H1696}{(H8765)} concerning thee, and shall have appointed{H6680}{(H8765)} 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}{(H8800)} blood{H1818} causeless{H2600}, or that my lord{H113} hath avenged{H3467}{(H8687)} himself: but when the LORD{H3068} shall have dealt well{H3190}{(H8689)} with my lord{H113}, then remember{H2142}{(H8804)} thine handmaid{H519}.

32 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Abigail{H26}, Blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, which sent{H7971}{(H8804)} thee this day{H3117} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} me:

33 And blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be thy advice{H2940}, and blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be thou, which hast kept{H3607}{(H8804)} me this day{H3117} from coming{H935}{(H8800)} to shed blood{H1818}, and from avenging{H3467}{(H8687)} 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}{(H8804)} from hurting{H7489}{(H8687)} thee, except{H3884} thou hadst hasted{H4116}{(H8765)} and come{H935}{(H8799)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} me, surely there had not been left{H3498}{(H8738)} unto Nabal{H5037} by the morning{H1242} light{H216} any that pisseth{H8366}{(H8688)} against the wall{H7023}.

35 So David{H1732} received{H3947}{(H8799)} of her hand{H3027} that which she had brought{H935}{(H8689)} him, and said{H559}{(H8804)} unto her, Go up{H5927}{(H8798)} in peace{H7965} to thine house{H1004}; see{H7200}{(H8798)}, I have hearkened{H8085}{(H8804)} to thy voice{H6963}, and have accepted{H5375}{(H8799)} thy person{H6440}.

36 And Abigail{H26} came{H935}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8689)} 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}{(H8800)} of Nabal{H5037}, and his wife{H802} had told{H5046}{(H8686)} him these things{H1697}, that his heart{H3820} died{H4191}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8799)} Nabal{H5037}, that he died{H4191}{(H8799)}.

39 And when David{H1732} heard{H8085}{(H8799)} that Nabal{H5037} was dead{H4191}{(H8804)}, he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be the LORD{H3068}, that hath pleaded{H7378}{(H8804)} the cause{H7379} of my reproach{H2781} from the hand{H3027} of Nabal{H5037}, and hath kept{H2820}{(H8804)} his servant{H5650} from evil{H7451}: for the LORD{H3068} hath returned{H7725}{(H8689)} the wickedness{H7451} of Nabal{H5037} upon his own head{H7218}. And David{H1732} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} and communed{H1696}{(H8762)} with Abigail{H26}, to take{H3947}{(H8800)} her to him to wife{H802}.

40 And when the servants{H5650} of David{H1732} were come{H935}{(H8799)} to Abigail{H26} to Carmel{H3760}, they spake{H1696}{(H8762)} unto her, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, David{H1732} sent{H7971}{(H8804)} us unto thee, to take{H3947}{(H8800)} thee to him to wife{H802}.

41 And she arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} herself on her face{H639} to the earth{H776}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold, let thine handmaid{H519} be a servant{H8198} to wash{H7364}{(H8800)} the feet{H7272} of the servants{H5650} of my lord{H113}.

42 And Abigail{H26} hasted{H4116}{(H8762)}, and arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and rode{H7392}{(H8799)} upon an ass{H2543}, with five{H2568} damsels{H5291} of hers that went{H1980}{(H8802)} after{H7272} her; and she went{H3212}{(H8799)} after{H310} the messengers{H4397} of David{H1732}, and became his wife{H802}.

43 David{H1732} also took{H3947}{(H8804)} Ahinoam{H293} of Jezreel{H3157}; and they were also both{H8147} of them his wives{H802}.

44 But Saul{H7586} had given{H5414}{(H8804)} Michal{H4324} his daughter{H1323}, David's{H1732} wife{H802}, to Phalti{H6406} the son{H1121} of Laish{H3919}, which was of Gallim{H1554}.