22. May God severely punish the enemies of David and again do thus if I leave behind anything that is his until the morning, not even one male!”
23. When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell on her face before David’s anger, and she bowed down to the ground.
24. She fell at his feet and said, “On me, my lord, be the guilt! Please let your female servant speak to you personally! Hear the words of your female servant!
25. Please do not let my lord set his heart against this worthless man, Nabal; for as his name, so is he. Nabal is his name, and stupidity is with him! But I, your female servant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
26. So then, my lord, as Yahweh lives and as your soul lives, since Yahweh restrained you from bloodguilt by taking matters into your own hand, so then, may your enemies be like Nabal, even those who seek to do my lord harm.
27. So then, this gift which your female servant has brought to my lord, may it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
28. Please forgive the transgression of your female servant, because Yahweh will certainly make a lasting house for my lord, because my lord is fighting the battles of Yahweh, and evil will not be found in you as long as you live.
29. Should a man arise to pursue you and to seek your life, may the life of my lord be wrapped in the pouch of the living with Yahweh your God. But as for the life of your enemy, he will sling it from within the pocket of the sling!
30. And then when Yahweh has done for my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you as leader over Israel,
31. then this will not be an obstacle for you or a stumbling block of conscience for my lord either by the shedding of blood without cause or by my lord taking matters into his own hands. And when Yahweh does good to my lord, then remember your female servant.”
32. Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be Yahweh the God of Israel who has sent you this day to meet me!
33. And blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you who have prevented me this day from bloodguilt and from delivering myself by my own hand.
34. But as Yahweh lives, the God of Israel who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried and come to meet me, surely there would not have been one male left alive for Nabal by the light of morning!”
35. Then David took from her hand what she had brought for him, and he said to her, “Go up to your house in peace. See, I have listened to your voice, and I have granted your request.”