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Samuel dies

25 Then Samuel died. All the Israelites met together and they were very sad. Then they buried Samuel at his home in Ramah.

David went down to the Paran desert.

Nabal insults David

2-3 There was a very rich man who lived at Maon. His name was Nabal. He was a descendant of Caleb. His wife's name was Abigail. She was wise and beautiful. But Nabal was a cruel man who did evil things.

Nabal had some land near Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. He was with his men in Carmel as they cut the wool from his sheep.

While David was in the desert, he heard that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep. So David sent ten young men to meet with Nabal. He said to them, ‘Go to Carmel and find Nabal. Tell him that David says “hello”. Then give him this message: “We hope that you and your family are all well. We hope that everything you have is doing well. David has heard that you are now cutting the wool from your sheep. When your shepherds were with us near Carmel, we did not hurt them. We did not take anything from them. Your servants will tell you that, if you ask them. Now we have come to you at this special holiday time. So please be kind to the young men that David has sent to see you. They are your servants as well as his servants. Please give any extra food that you have to these young men and to your good friend David.” ’

David's men went to Carmel. They gave David's message to Nabal. They waited for Nabal to reply. 10 Nabal answered David's young men, ‘Who is this David? Do I know this son of Jesse? Many servants run away from their masters these days. 11 I have food and drink for the men who are cutting the wool from my sheep. I have cooked meat for them to eat. But I will not give anything to you. You might have come from anywhere!’

12 David's young men left Nabal. They returned to David and they told him everything that Nabal had said. 13 David said to his men, ‘Tie your swords onto your belts.’ So they all did that. David put his sword on his belt too. About 400 men went with David. About 200 men stayed at their camp.

14 One of Nabal's servants spoke to Nabal's wife, Abigail. He said to her, ‘David sent some of his men from the desert to say “hello” to our master. But our master insulted them. 15 David's men have been very kind to us. When we were with them in the fields, they did not hurt us. They did not take anything from us the whole time that we were there. 16 They kept us safe while we took care of Nabal's sheep. They kept us safe all the time, during the day and at night. 17 So please think carefully about this. Decide what you can do. If you do nothing, there will be great trouble for our master and all his family and servants. He is such a wicked man that he will not listen to anyone.’

18 Abigail quickly got some food. She got 200 loaves of bread, two leather bags of wine, five sheep that she had cooked, and five jars of grain that she had cooked. She also got 100 blocks of raisins and 200 blocks of dried figs. She put all these things on some donkeys. 19 She said to her servants, ‘You go first and I will follow you.’ But she did not tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.

20 Abigail rode her donkey along the path beside a mountain. Then she saw David and his men as they were coming towards her. So they all met each other. 21 David had just said to his men, ‘I kept Nabal's people and all his things safe in the desert. We did not take anything from him. But that has not helped us. I was kind to him, but he has done an evil thing to me in return. 22 I pray that God will punish me if I do not kill all the men in Nabal's family by tomorrow morning.’

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bent her body down low on the ground to respect David. 24 She lay down at his feet. She said to David, ‘My master, I am the one who is guilty. I am your servant. Please let me say something and please listen to me. 25 Please sir, do not think about that wicked man Nabal. His name means “fool” and he really is a fool. But as for me, I did not see the young men that you sent.

26 I know this as surely as the Lord lives and as surely as you live: The Lord has stopped you from killing anyone today. You could have done that, but he has not let you do it. I pray that God will punish all your enemies in the same way that he will punish Nabal. 27 My master, please accept these gifts that I have brought for you and for your men. 28 I am your servant. Please forgive me for any sin. I know that the Lord will always choose someone from your family to be Israel's king. The Lord will do that because you fight battles on his behalf. I pray that you will not do any evil thing in your whole life. 29 People may chase after you and try to kill you. But the Lord your God will always keep you safe. He will throw your enemies away like someone who throws a stone from his sling. 30 The Lord will surely do for you all the good things that he has promised to do. He will make you the ruler of the Israelites. 31 When that happens, you will not feel sorry for something bad that you might have done today. You could have killed people today for no good reason. You could have tried to punish these people yourself. So please remember me when the Lord has helped you to rule as king.’

32 David said to Abigail, ‘I praise the Lord, Israel's God. He has sent you to meet me here today. 33 I thank you for your wisdom. May the Lord bless you because of what you have done to help me. You have stopped me from killing people today. I would have punished these people myself. 34 But the Lord has not let me hurt you. As surely as the Lord, Israel's God, lives, I would have killed all the men in Nabal's family before dawn. But you came quickly to meet me.’

35 David accepted Abigail's gifts that she had brought with her. He said to her, ‘Go back to your home and do not be afraid. I have listened to what you have said. I will do what you have asked for.’

Nabal dies

36 Abigail returned to her husband, Nabal. He was eating a big feast with people in his house. It was as good as a king's feast. Nabal was happy and drunk. So Abigail did not tell him anything until the next morning.

37 The next morning, Nabal was no longer drunk. So Abigail told him about everything that she had done. Nabal's heart failed. His body became like a stone. 38 About ten days after that, the Lord caused Nabal to die.

39 David heard the news that Nabal had died. He said, ‘I praise the Lord. He has shown that I was right. Nabal insulted me but the Lord has punished him for that. The Lord stopped me from doing an evil thing. Now he has punished Nabal for the evil thing that he did.’

Then David sent a message to Abigail to ask her to marry him. 40 David's servants went to Carmel. They said to Abigail, ‘David has sent us to you. We must take you back with us to become his wife.’

41 Abigail bent her body down low so that her face touched the ground. She said, ‘I am happy to be David's servant. I am ready to wash the feet of his servants.’

42 Abigail quickly prepared her donkey to go with David's men. She took with her five young girls to be her servants. Abigail went to David and she became his wife.

43 David had already married Ahinoam from Jezreel town. So these two women became his wives. 44 Saul's daughter Michal had been David's wife. But Saul had then given her to Palti as his wife. Palti was the son of Laish, who came from Gallim town.

Daa'uud, Naabaal Iyo Abiigayil

25 Markaasaa waxaa dhintay Samuu'eel, reer binu Israa'iil oo dhammuna way isu soo wada urureen oo u baroorteen, oo waxay isagii ku dhex aaseen gurigiisii Raamaah ku yiil. Daa'uudna wuu kacay oo ku dhaadhacay cidladii Faaraan.

Oo waxaa jiray nin reer Maacoon ahaa oo ay xoolihiisu Karmel joogeen, oo ninkaasuna aad buu u weynaa, oo wuxuu lahaa saddex kun oo ido ah iyo kun riyo ah, oo isna idihiisii ayuu Karmel ku xiirayay. Haddaba ninkaas magiciisu wuxuu ahaa Naabaal, naagtiisa magaceeduna Abiigayil, oo naagtuna waxay ahayd mid caqli wanaagsan, aadna u suurad qurxoon, laakiinse ninku wuxuu ahaa nin qallafsan oo shar sameeya; oo wuxuuna ahaa reer Kaaleeb. Oo Daa'uud oo cidlada joogay ayaa maqlay in Naabaal idihiisii xiirayo. Daa'uudna toban nin oo dhallinyaro ah ayuu diray, oo Daa'uud wuxuu raggii dhallinyarada ahaa ku yidhi, Orda oo Naabaal ugu taga Karmel, oo magacayga ku salaama; oo waxaad kaas barwaaqaysan ku tidhaahdaan, Nabadu ha kuu ahaato, reerkaagana nabadu ha u ahaato, oo waxaad haysatid oo dhanna nabadu ha u ahaato. Oo haatan waxaan maqlay inaad haysatid kuwo ido xiira; adhijirradaadiina way nala joogayeen, oo annana waxba ma aannu yeelin, oo innaba wax kama dhinnayn intii ay Karmel joogeen oo dhan. Oo taas bal raggaaga dhallinyarada ah weyddii, oo way kuu sheegi doonaan. Taas aawadeed ragga dhallinyarada ah raalli ka ahow, waayo, maalin wanaagsan baannu kuu nimid, haddaba waan ku baryayaaye wax alla wixii gacantaada ku jira soo sii addoommadaada iyo anoo ah inankaaga Daa'uud. Oo markay Daa'uud raggiisii dhallinyarada ahaa yimaadeen ayay erayadan oo dhan Naabaal kula hadleen iyagoo magaca Daa'uud ku hadlaya, dabadeedna way aamuseen. 10 Markaasaa Naabaal ugu jawaabay Daa'uud addoommadiisii, Waa ayo Daa'uud? Wiilka Yesayse waa kuma? Maalmahan waxaa jira addoommo badan oo nin kastaa ku caasiyooba sayidkiisa. 11 Haddaba miyaan qaadaa kibistayda, iyo biyahayga, iyo hilibkayga aan u qalay kuwa idaha ii xiiraya, oo miyaan siiyaa niman aanan aqoon meel ay ka yimaadeen? 12 Sidaas daraaddeed Daa'uud raggiisii dhallinyarada ahaa way jeesteen oo dib bay u noqdeen, oo intay Daa'uud u yimaadeen ayay erayadan oo dhan u sheegeen. 13 Markaasaa Daa'uud wuxuu raggiisii ku yidhi, Nin walowba seeftaada xidho. Oo nin waluba seeftiisii buu xidhay, oo Daa'uudna seeftiisii buu xidhay. Kolkaasaa waxaa Daa'uud raacay in ku dhow afar boqol oo nin; oo laba boqolna alaabtii bay la joogeen. 14 Laakiinse raggii dhallinyarada ahaa midkood ayaa u warramay Naabaal naagtiisii Abiigayil ahayd oo wuxuu ku yidhi, Bal eeg, Daa'uud ayaa wargeeys ka soo diray cidlada inay soo salaamaan sayidkayaga, laakiinse wuu caayay. 15 Laakiinse nimankaasu way noo wanaagsanaayeen aad iyo aad, oo waxba nalama yeelin, oo innaba wax nagama dhinnayn intii aannu la soconnay oo dhan markii aannu duurka joognay. 16 Iyagu habeen iyo maalinba derbi bay noo ahaayeen intaannu iyaga la joognay oo idaha haynay oo dhan. 17 Haddaba bal garo oo ka fiirso wixii aad samayn doonto, waayo, sayidkayaga iyo reerkiisa oo dhanba belaayaa lala damacsan yahay, waayo, isagu waa waxmatare, oo ninnaba lama hadli karo. 18 Markaasaa Abiigayil dhaqsatay, oo waxay soo qaadatay laba boqol oo xabbadood oo kibis ah, iyo laba sibraar oo khamri ah, iyo shan neef oo ido ah oo la qalay, iyo shan koombo oo hadhuudh la dubay ah, iyo boqol rucubood oo sabiib ah, iyo laba boqol oo fud oo berde ah, oo waxay ku raratay dameerro. 19 Markaasay waxay raggeedii dhallinyarada ahaa ku tidhi, Taga oo iga hor mara, oo anna waan idinka daba imanayaa. Laakiinse waxba uma ay sheegin ninkeedii Naabaal. 20 Oo siday dameerkeedii u soo fuushanayd ayay soo dhaadacday oo ag martay buurta meesheedii qarsoonayd, oo waxaa ka hor yimid Daa'uud iyo raggiisii, markaasay la kulantay. 21 Haddaba Daa'uud wuxuu markaa ka hor yidhi, Hubaal waxtarla'aan baan u dhawrayay waxa ninkanu cidlada ku haysto oo dhan, si aan waxba uga maqnaan waxa uu leeyahay oo dhan, oo wanaaggii aan u falay shar buu iigu beddelay. 22 Ilaah saas iyo si ka sii daranba ha ku sameeyo cadaawayaashayda, haddii waxa uu leeyahay oo dhan xataa wiil yarna ha noqotee aan ka tago tan iyo waaberiga. 23 Oo Abiigayilna markay Daa'uud aragtay ayay haddiiba dameerkeedii ka soo degtay, oo Daa'uud isku hor tuurtay, wayna sujuudday. 24 Oo intay cagihiisa isku tuurtay ayay tidhi, Dembiganu dushayda ha ahaado, sayidkaygiiyow, dushayda ha ahaado, oo waan ku baryayaaye, anoo addoontaada ahu dhegahaaga aan ku hadlo, oo adiguna bal maqal erayadayda anoo addoontaada ah. 25 Waan ku baryayaaye, sayidkaygiiyow, ha ka fikirin ninkan waxmataraha ah ee Naabaal la yidhaahdo, waayo, sida magiciisu u yahay weeye isaguna; magiciisu waa Naabaal oo waxaa isaga ku jirta nacasnimo, laakiinse anigoo ah addoontaada ma aanan arkin nimankii dhallinyarada ahaa oo aad soo dirtay, sayidkaygiiyow. 26 Sidaas daraaddeed, sayidkaygiiyow, waxaan ku dhaartay nolosha Rabbiga, iyo adiga naftaada, maxaa yeelay, Rabbigu wuxuu kaa hor joogsaday inaad dhiig gasho, iyo inaad gacantaada ku aarsatid, haddaba cadaawayaashaada iyo kuwa xumaanta kula doonaya, sayidkaygiiyow, ha noqdeen sida Naabaal oo kale. 27 Haddaba sayidkaygiiyow, hadiyaddan anoo addoontaada ah aan kuu keenay, ha la siiyo ragga dhallinyarada ah oo kula socda. 28 Waan ku baryayaaye, anoo addoontaada ah xadgudubkayga iga cafi, sayidkaygiiyow, waayo, Rabbigu hubaal wuxuu kuu samayn doonaa guri ammaan ah, maxaa yeelay, waxaad dirirtaa dagaallada Rabbiga; oo cimrigaaga oo dhanna shar lagaama heli doono. 29 Oo in kastoo dadku kugu kaco oo kuu eryado inuu nafta kaa qaado, weliba, sayidkaygiiyow, naftaadu waxay xidhmada nolosha kula xidhnaan doontaa Rabbiga Ilaahaaga ah, oo cadaawayaashaada naftoodana wuu tuuri doonaa sidii isagoo ka tuuraya wadhafka meeshiisa godan. 30 Oo markii Rabbigu kuu sameeyo wanaaggii uu kaaga hadlay oo dhan ee uu amiir kaaga dhigo reer binu Israa'iil oo dhan, sayidkaygiiyow, 31 markaas ma nixi doontid, qalbigaaguna kuuma xumaan doono dhiig aad sababla'aan u daadisay, iyo aarsasho; oo markii Rabbigu si wanaagsan kuula macaamiloodo, sayidkaygiiyow, bal markaas i soo xusuuso, anoo addoontaada ah. 32 Markaasaa Daa'uud wuxuu Abiigayil ku yidhi, Waxaa mahad leh Rabbiga ah Ilaaha reer binu Israa'iil oo maanta kuu soo diray inaad iga hor timaadid. 33 Waxaa barakaysan xigmaddaada, oo adna waad barakaysan tahay, waayo, waxaad maanta iga celisay inaan dhiig galo iyo inaan gacantayda ku aarsado. 34 Waxaan ku dhaartay Rabbiga ah Ilaaha reer binu Israa'iil oo nool oo iga joojiyey inaan wax ku yeelo, waayo, hubaal haddii aadan degdegin oo iga hor iman, waaberiga Naabaal xataa wiil yaru uma uu hadheen. 35 Sidaas daraaddeed Daa'uud gacanteedii buu ka guddoomay wixii ay u keentay, markaasuu ku yidhi, Haddaba gurigaagii nabad ku tag, oo bal eeg, codkaagii waan maqlay, waanan ku aqbalay. 36 Markaasaa Abiigayil u timid Naabaal, oo bal eeg, gurigiisuu ku qabtay diyaafad u eg boqor diyaafaddiis, oo Naabaalna qalbigiisu aad buu u faraxsanaa, waayo, aad buu u sakhraansanaa; sidaas daraaddeed waxba uma ay sheegin yar iyo badnaan toona ilaa waaberigii. 37 Oo subaxdii markii Naabaal sakhraankii ka ba'ay ayay naagtiisii waxyaalahan u sheegtay, markaasaa qalbigii ku dhex dhintay, oo sidii dhagax oo kale ayuu noqday. 38 Oo haddana toban maalmood dabadeed Rabbigaa Naabaal dilay, wuuna iska dhintay. 39 Oo Daa'uudna markuu maqlay in Naabaal dhintay ayuu yidhi, Waxaa mahad leh Rabbigii Naabaal caydii uu i caayay iiga soo aarguday, oo anoo addoonkiisa ah shar iga celiyey; Naabaalna xumaantii uu samaynayay Rabbigu isaguu ku celiyey. Markaasuu Daa'uud cid u diray Abiigayil oo kala hadlay siduu u guursan lahaa. 40 Oo addoommadii Daa'uudna markay Abiigayil ugu yimaadeen Karmel, intay la hadleen ayay ku yidhaahdeen, Daa'uud baa noogu kaa soo diray inuu ku guursado. 41 Markaasay kacday oo intay sujuudday ayay wejigeeda dhulka saartay, oo waxay tidhi, Bal eeg, anoo addoontaada ah waxaan ahay midiidin cagaha u maydha addoommada sayidkayga. 42 Markaasaa Abiigayil dhaqsatay, oo kacday, oo waxay fuushay dameer, iyadoo wadata shan gabdhood oo kuweed ah oo la socda; oo iyana wargeeyayaashii Daa'uud bay daba gashay, waxayna noqotay naagtiisii. 43 Oo Daa'uud haddana Axiinocamtii reer Yesreceel buu guursaday, oo labadoodiiba waxay noqdeen naagihiisii. 44 Haddaba Saa'uul gabadhiisii Miikaal ee Daa'uud naagtiisa ahayd wuxuu siiyey Faltii oo ahaa ina Layish, kaasoo ahaa reer Galliim.

David, Nabal and Abigail

25 Now Samuel died,(A) and all Israel assembled and mourned(B) for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah.(C) Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.[a]

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

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

“‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat(K) them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 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(L) you can find for them.’”

When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.

10 Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who(M) is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread(N) and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”

12 David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men(O), “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went(P) up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.(Q)

14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings,(R) but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat(S) us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing.(T) 16 Night and day they were a wall(U) around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked(V) man that no one can talk to him.”

18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs[b] of roasted grain,(W) a hundred cakes of raisins(X) and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.(Y) 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead;(Z) I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell(AA) her husband Nabal.

20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing.(AB) He has paid(AC) me back evil(AD) for good. 22 May God deal with David,[c] be it ever so severely,(AE) if by morning I leave alive one male(AF) of all who belong to him!”

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.(AG) 24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord,(AH) and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool(AI),(AJ) and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. 26 And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed(AK) and from avenging(AL) yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.(AM) 27 And let this gift,(AN) which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

28 “Please forgive(AO) your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting(AP) dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles,(AQ) and no wrongdoing(AR) will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life,(AS) 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(AT) away as from the pocket of a sling.(AU) 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler(AV) 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(AW) your servant.”(AX)

32 David said to Abigail, “Praise(AY) 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(AZ) 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(BA) 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(BB) your request.”

36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high(BC) spirits and very drunk.(BD) So she told(BE) him nothing at all until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone.(BF) 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck(BG) Nabal and he died.

39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”

Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.”

41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” 42 Abigail(BH) quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam(BI) of Jezreel, and they both were his wives.(BJ) 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel[d](BK) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.(BL)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 25:1 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts Maon
  2. 1 Samuel 25:18 That is, probably about 60 pounds or about 27 kilograms
  3. 1 Samuel 25:22 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew with David’s enemies
  4. 1 Samuel 25:44 Hebrew Palti, a variant of Paltiel