Study Desk

and said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.

You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn't kill me.

When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May the Lord repay you with good for what you've done for me today.

"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

Samuel died, and all Israel assembled to mourn for him, and they buried him by his home in Ramah. David then went down to the Wilderness of Paran.

Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast day. Please give whatever you can afford to your servants and to your son David.'"

Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don't know where they are from."

Now consider carefully what you must do, because there is certain to be trouble for our master and his entire family. He is such a worthless fool nobody can talk to him!"

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.

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.

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.

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.

When the Lord does for my lord all the good He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel,

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."

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.

So Saul, accompanied by 3,000 of the choice men of Israel, went to the Wilderness of Ziph to search for David there.

So David sent out spies and knew for certain that Saul had come.

But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord 's anointed and be blameless?"

Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me, then may He accept an offering. But if it is people, may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord , for today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord saying, ‘Go and worship other gods.'

So don't let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord 's presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a flea, like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains."