4. and David, who was in the wilderness, heard about it,
5. so he sent ten young men with orders to go to Carmel, find Nabal, and give him his greetings.
6. He instructed them to say to Nabal: “David sends you greetings, my friend, with his best wishes for you, your family, and all that is yours.
7. He heard that you were shearing your sheep, and he wants you to know that your shepherds have been with us and we did not harm them. Nothing that belonged to them was stolen all the time they were at Carmel.
8. Just ask them, and they will tell you. We have come on a feast day, and David asks you to receive us kindly. Please give what you can to us your servants and to your dear friend David.”
9. David's men delivered this message to Nabal in David's name. Then they waited there,
10. and Nabal finally answered, “David? Who is he? I've never heard of him! The country is full of runaway slaves nowadays!
11. I'm not going to take my bread and water, and the animals I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to people who come from I don't know where!”
12. David's men went back to him and told him what Nabal had said.