1 Samuel 25:8-16
New American Standard Bible
9When David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal in accordance with all these words in David’s name; then they waited.
10But Nabal answered David’s servants and said, 'Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.
11Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men whose origin I do not know?'
12So David’s young men made their way back and returned; and they came and informed him in accordance with all these words.
13Then David said to his men, 'Each of you strap on his sword.' So each man strapped on his sword. And David also strapped on his sword, and about four hundred men went up behind David, while two hundred stayed with the baggage.
14Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, 'Behold, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, and he spoke to them in anger.
15Yet the men were very good to us, and we were not harmed, nor did anything go missing as long as we went with them, while we were in the fields.
16They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the time we were with them tending the sheep.
King James Version
Chapter 25
8Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. 9And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. 10And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. 11Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
12So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
13And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
15But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
16They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
Christian Standard Bible
9David's young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David's behalf, and they waited.
10Nabal asked them, "Who is David? Who is Jesse's son? Many slaves these days are running away from their masters.
11Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don't know where they are from."
12David's young men retraced their steps. When they returned to him, they reported all these words.
13He said to his men, "All of you, put on your swords! " So each man put on his sword, and David also put on his sword. About four hundred men followed David while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14One of Nabal's young men informed Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them.
15The men treated us very well. When we were in the field, we weren't harassed and nothing of ours was missing the whole time we were living among them.
16They were a wall around us, both day and night, the entire time we were with them herding the sheep.
New Living Translation
Chapter 25
8Ask 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.' 9David’s young men gave this message to Nabal in David’s name, and they waited for a reply.
10Who 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.
11Should 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?'
12So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said.
13Get your swords!' was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
14Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants went to Abigail and told her, 'David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed insults at them.
15These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us.
16In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep.
English Standard Version
9When David’s young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited.
10And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.
11Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”
12So David’s young men turned away and came back and told him all this.
13And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
14But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them.
15Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them.
16They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
New International Version
10Nabal answered David's servants, 'Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.
11Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?'
12David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word.
13David said to his men, 'Each of you strap on your sword!' So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal's wife, 'David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them.
15Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing.
16Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.
New King James Version
10Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.
11Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”
12So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.
13Then David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword.” So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them.
15But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields.
16They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.