22. May God strike me dead if I don't kill every last one of those men before morning!”
23. When Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted and threw herself on the ground
24. at David's feet, and said to him, “Please, sir, listen to me! Let me take the blame.
25. Please, don't pay any attention to Nabal, that good-for-nothing! He is exactly what his name means — a fool! I wasn't there when your servants arrived, sir.
26. It is the Lord who has kept you from taking revenge and killing your enemies. And now I swear to you by the living Lord that your enemies and all who want to harm you will be punished like Nabal.
27. Please, sir, accept this present I have brought you, and give it to your men.
28. Please forgive me, sir, for any wrong I have done. The Lord will make you king, and your descendants also, because you are fighting his battles; and you will not do anything evil as long as you live.
29. If anyone should attack you and try to kill you, the Lord your God will keep you safe, as someone guards a precious treasure. As for your enemies, however, he will throw them away, as someone hurls stones with a sling.
30. And when the Lord has done all the good things he has promised you and has made you king of Israel,
31. then you will not have to feel regret or remorse, sir, for having killed without cause or for having taken your own revenge. And when the Lord has blessed you, sir, please do not forget me.”
32. David said to her, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me!
33. Thank God for your good sense and for what you have done today in keeping me from the crime of murder and from taking my own revenge.