^25:36When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time³⁷ and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing³⁸ until morning’s light. ^25:37In the morning, when Nabal was sober,³⁹ his wife told him about these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed.⁴⁰^25:38After about ten days the Lord struck Nabal down and he died.

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Footnotes

37 Heb “and the heart of Nabal was good upon him”; , “Nabal’s heart was merry within him”; “he was in high spirits”; , “was in a good mood”; “was very drunk and feeling good.”
38 Heb “and she did not tell him a thing, small or large.”
39 Heb “when the wine had gone out from Nabal.”
40 Heb “and his heart died within him and he became a stone.” Cf. , “stroke”; “heart attack.” For an alternative interpretation than that presented above, see Marjorie O’Rourke Boyle, “The Law of the Heart: The Death of a Fool (1 Samuel 25),” 120 (2001): , who argues that a medical diagnosis is not necessary here. Instead, the passage makes a connection between the heart and the law; Nabal dies for his lawlessness.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until daybreak. Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was in his house, holding a feast fit for a king. Nabal’s heart was cheerful, and he was very drunk, so she didn’t say anything to him until morning light.

In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. His heart died and he became a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal dead.

NLTNew Living Translation

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. 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. About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then Abigail went to Nabal, and look, he was holding a feast in his house like the feast of the king. Nabal was enjoying himself, and he was very drunk, so she did not tell him a thing, nothing at all, until the light of morning. And then in the morning when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these words. Then his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. And then, about ten days later, Yahweh struck Nabal and he died.

KJV 1900King James Version

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.

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