1 Samuel 25:24–33

^25:24Falling at his feet, she said, “My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant! ^25:25My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means ‘fool,’ and he is indeed foolish!²³ But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.²⁴

^25:26“Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as surely as you live, it is the Lord who has kept you from shedding blood and taking matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal. ^25:27Now let this present²⁵ that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow²⁶ my lord. ^25:28Please forgive the sin of your servant, for the Lord will certainly establish the house of my lord, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord. May no evil be found in you all your days! ^25:29When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag²⁷ of the living by the Lord your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling’s pocket! ^25:30The Lord will do for my lord everything that he promised you,²⁸ and he will make²⁹ you a leader over Israel. ^25:31Your conscience will not be overwhelmed with guilt³⁰ for having poured out innocent blood and for having taken matters into your own hands. When the Lord has granted my lord success,³¹ please remember your servant.”

^25:32Then David said to Abigail, “Praised³² be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me! ^25:33Praised be your good judgment! May you yourself be rewarded³³ for having prevented me this day from shedding blood and taking matters into my own hands!