² A certain man in Maon,^(A) who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy.^(B) He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing^(C) in Carmel. ³ His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail.^(D) She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.^(E)

⁴ While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. ⁵ So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. ⁶ Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health^(F) to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!^(G)

⁷ “‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat^(H) them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. ⁸ Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever^(I) you can find for them.’”

²⁷ And let this gift,^(A) which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

²⁸ “Please forgive^(B) your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting^(C) dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles,^(D) and no wrongdoing^(E) will be found in you as long as you live. ²⁹ Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life,^(F) the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl^(G) away as from the pocket of a sling.^{(H) 30} When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler^(I) over Israel, ³¹ my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember^(J) your servant.”^(K)

³² David said to Abigail, “Praise^(L) be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. ³³ May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed^(M) this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. ³⁴ Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal^(N) would have been left alive by daybreak.”

³⁵ Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted^(O) your request.”