1 Samuel 25:24–33

²⁴She knelt 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. ²⁵My lord should pay no attention to this worthless fool Nabal, for he lives up to his name:^C His name means ‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows.^D I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent. ²⁶Now 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^a by your own hand—may your enemies and those who intend to harm my lord be like Nabal.^{b 27}Let this gift^c your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. ²⁸Please forgive your servant’s offense,^d for the Lord is certain to make a lasting dynasty for my lord^e because he fights the Lord’s battles.^f Throughout your life, may evil^E not be found in you.^g

²⁹“Someone is pursuing you and intends to take your life. My lord’s life is tucked safely in the place^F where the Lord your God protects the living, but he is flinging away your enemies’ lives like stones from a sling.^{h 30}When the Lord does for my lord all the good he promised you and appoints you ruler over Israel,^{i 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.”^j

³²Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,^k who sent you to meet me today! ³³May your discernment be blessed, and may you be blessed. Today you kept me from participating in bloodshed and avenging myself by my own hand.^l