1 Samuel 25:4-11

Christian Standard Bible Anglicised

⁴ While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep, ⁵ so David sent ten young men instructing them, ‘Go up to Carmel, and when you come to Nabal, greet him^[a] in my name. ⁶ Then say this: “Long life to you,^[b] and peace to you, peace to your family, and peace to all that is yours.^{(A) 7} I hear that you are shearing.^[c] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.^{(B) 8} Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favour with you, for we have come on a feast^[d] day.^(C) Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.” ’

⁹ David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf,^[e] and they waited.^{[f] 10} Nabal asked them, ‘Who is David?^(D) Who is Jesse’s son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters. ¹¹ Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know where they are from.’