24 So she fell at his feet and said: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant [a]speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. 25 Please, let not my lord [b]regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: [c]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. 26 Now therefore, my lord, (A)as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has (B)held you back from coming to bloodshed and from (C)avenging[d] yourself with your own hand, now then, (D)let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. 27 And now (E)this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For (F)the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord (G)fights the battles of the Lord, (H)and evil is not found in you throughout your days. 29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be (I)bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall (J)sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you (K)ruler over Israel, 31 that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.”

32 Then David said to Abigail: (L)“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have (M)kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 25:24 speak to you
  2. 1 Samuel 25:25 pay attention to
  3. 1 Samuel 25:25 Lit. Fool
  4. 1 Samuel 25:26 Lit. saving yourself

24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord,(A) 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(B),(C) 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(D) and from avenging(E) yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.(F) 27 And let this gift,(G) which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.

28 “Please forgive(H) your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting(I) dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles,(J) and no wrongdoing(K) will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life,(L) 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(M) away as from the pocket of a sling.(N) 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler(O) 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(P) your servant.”(Q)

32 David said to Abigail, “Praise(R) 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(S) this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.

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15 (A)By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

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15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,(A)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.(B)

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