29. “Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the lord your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling!
30. When the lord has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel,
31. don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”
32. David replied to Abigail, “Praise the lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today!
33. Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.
34. For I swear by the lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.”
35. Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”
36. When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day.
37. In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone.
38. About ten days later, the lord struck him, and he died.
39. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the lord, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin.” Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.