4. When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
5. he sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal:
6. “Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own!
7. I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them.
8. Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David.”
9. David’s young men gave this message to Nabal in David’s name, and they waited for a reply.
10. “Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.
11. Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
12. So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said.