21. David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good.
22. May God punish me and do so severely if I let any of his men survive until morning.”
23. When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey and fell with her face to the ground in front of David.
24. She fell at his feet and said, “The guilt is mine, my lord, but please let your servant speak to you directly. Listen to the words of your servant.
25. My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name is Nabal, and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent.
26. Now my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, it is the Lord who kept you from participating in bloodshed and avenging yourself by your own hand. May your enemies and those who want trouble for my lord be like Nabal.
27. Accept this gift your servant has brought to my lord, and let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
28. Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord because he fights the Lord’s battles. Throughout your life, may evil not be found in you.
29. “When someone pursues you and attempts to take your life, my lord’s life will be tucked safely in the place where the Lord your God protects the living. However, He will fling away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.
30. When the Lord does for my lord all the good He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel,
31. there will not be remorse or a troubled conscience for my lord because of needless bloodshed or my lord’s revenge. And when the Lord does good things for my lord, may you remember me your servant.”
32. Then David said to Abigail, “Praise to the Lord God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today!
33. Your discernment is blessed, and you are blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.
34. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord God of Israel lives, who prevented me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, Nabal wouldn’t have had any men left by morning light.”
35. Then David accepted what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. See, I have heard what you said and have granted your request.”
36. Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. Nabal was in a good mood and very drunk, so she didn’t say anything to him until morning light.
37. In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. Then he had a seizure and became paralyzed.
38. About 10 days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.