²⁵ Please, let not my lord ^[a]regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: ^[b]Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.

³ The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of ^(A)Caleb.

⁴ When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was ^(B)shearing his sheep, ⁵ David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. ⁶ And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ^(C)‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! ⁷ Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, ^(D)nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. ⁸ Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore ^[a]let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on ^(E)a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ”