1 Samuel 25

1 [Soon after that], Samuel died, and all the Israeli people gathered and mourned for him. They buried his body outside his home in Ramah. Then David and his men moved to the Maon Desert.

Et Samuel mourut; et tout Israël se rassembla pour pleurer sur lui, et on l'inhuma dans la ville d'Armathem. Cependant David s'en retourna au désert de Maon.

2 In Maon [town] there was a man who owned land in Carmel, [a nearby village]. He was very rich; he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats.

Il y avait alors en Maon un homme d'une très grande taille, et ses troupeaux étaient sur le mont Carmel; il possédait trois mille brebis et mille chèvres; or, il était à tondre ses brebis sur le Carmel.

3 His name was Nabal; he was a descendant of Caleb. His wife Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman, but Nabal was very cruel and treated people very unkindly [IDM].

L'homme s'appelait Nabal, et sa femme Abigaïl, femme excellente par l'intelligence, et très belle de visage; mais l'homme était dur, méchant dans ses habitudes; c'était un homme grossier.

4 One day while David [and his men] were in the desert, someone told him that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.

David apprit dans le désert que Nabal, du Carmel, tondait ses brebis.

5 So David told ten of his men, “Go to Nabal at Carmel and greet him for me.

Et il envoya dix jeunes serviteurs, leur disant: Montez sur le Carmel, allez trouver Nabal et saluez-le en mon nom.

6 Then tell to him this message from me, ‘I wish/desire that things will go well for you and your family and for everything that you possess.

Voici ce que vous lui direz: Bonne santé à toi pour toujours, prospérité à ta maison et à tout ce que tu possèdes.

7 ‘heard people say that you are cutting the wool from your sheep. Previously, when your shepherds were among us, we did not harm them. All the time that your shepherds were among us at Camel, we did not steal any sheep from them.

Or, voici que je viens d'apprendre que tes bergers faisaient la tonte; ce sont ceux qui étaient avec nous dans le désert; nous ne leur avons jamais fait obstacle. Nous n'avons rien exigé d'eux, aussi longtemps qu'ils ont demeuré sur le Carmel.

8 You can ask your servants if this is true, and they will tell you [that it is true]. We have come here at a time when you are celebrating, so I ask you to please be kind to us and give these men whatever extra food you have, for me, David, and my men to eat.’”

Interroge tes serviteurs, et ils te le déclareront; pour nous, tes serviteurs aussi, puissions-nous trouver grâce à tes yeux, car nous sommes venus en un jour heureux. Donne donc à ton fils David quelque chose que tu aies sous la main.

9 When David’s men arrived where Nabal was, they gave David’s message to him, and they waited [for him to reply]. But Nabal spoke harshly to them.

Les serviteurs partent; ils répètent à Nabal, au nom de David, toutes les paroles que celui-ci leur a dites. Mais Nabal fit un bond en arrière,

10 He said to them, “Who [does] this man, this son of Jesse, [think that he] is? [DOU, RHQ] There are many slaves who are running away from their masters at the present time, [and it seems to me that he is just one of them].

Et répondant aux serviteurs de David, il dit: Qu'est-ce que David? Qu'est-ce que le fils de Jessé? Le monde est plein aujourd'hui de serviteurs qui s'échappent de la maison de leur maître.

11 I give bread and water to the men who are cutting the wool from my sheep, and I give them meat from animals that I have slaughtered. Why should I take some of those things and give them to a group of outlaws [RHQ]? (Who knows where they have come from?/I do not even know where they have come from.)” [RHQ]

Oui, je vais prendre mon pain, mon vin, les victimes que j'ai sacrifiées pour mes tondeurs, et je vais les donner à des hommes qui viennent je ne sais d'où!

12 Then David’s men returned and told him what Nabal had said.

Les serviteurs reprirent donc le chemin par lequel ils étaient venus, et ils arrivèrent, et ils rapportèrent cette réponse à David.

13 When David heard that, he told his men, “[We are going to kill Nabal; ] fasten your swords!” So he fastened on his sword and about 400 men fastened on their swords and went with David. There were 200 of his men who stayed with their supplies.

Alors, David dit à ses gens: Que chacun de vous ceigne son épée. Et environ quatre cents hommes s'en allèrent avec David; il en resta deux cents auprès des bagages.

14 One of Nabal’s servants [found out what David and his men were planning to do, so he] went to Nabal’s wife Abigail and said to her, “David sent some messengers from the desert to greet our master Nabal, but Nabal only yelled at them.

Et l'un des serviteurs de Nabal parla à sa femme Abigaïl, disant: Voilà que David a envoyé du désert des messagers pour bénir notre maître, et il leur a tourné le dos.

15 All the time that we were in the fields close to them, those men of David were very kind to us. They did not harm us. They did not steal anything from us.

Ce sont des hommes très bienveillants pour nous; ils ne nous ont point fait obstacle, ils n'ont rien exigé de nous, durant tout le temps que nous avons passé près d'eux.

16 They protected us during the daytime and during the night. They were like a wall [MET] around us to protect us while we were taking care of our sheep.

Et, tandis que nous étions aux champs, ils étaient pour nous comme un retranchement, nuit et jour, durant tout le temps que nous avons été près d'eux paissant nos troupeaux.

17 So now you should think about it and decide what you can do. [If you do not do something, ] terrible things will happen to our master and to all his family. Nabal is an extremely wicked man, with the result that [he will not heed anyone when] that person tries to tell him anything [that he should do].”

Et maintenant réfléchis, vois ce que tu as à faire; car le malheur fond sur notre maître et sa maison; lui-même est un fils de pestilence, et il n'y a pas à lui parler.

18 [When] Abigail [heard that, she] very quickly gathered 200 loaves [of bread], and also got two leather bags full of wine, the meat from five sheep, a bushel of roasted grain, 100 packs of raisins, and 200 packs of dried figs. She put all those things on donkeys.

Et Abigaïl se hâta; elle prit deux cents pains, deux vases pleins de vin, cinq brebis apprêtées, cinq éphi de fleur de farine, un gomor de raisins secs, deux cents cabas de figues, et elle les chargea sur des ânes.

19 Then she told her servants, “Go ahead of me. I will follow you.” But she did not tell her husband [what she was going to do].

Puis, elle dit à ses serviteurs: Partez devant moi; voilà que je vous suis. Mais elle ne dit rien à son mari.

20 David and his men [had left the place where they were staying and were on the road to Nabal’s property. They] were coming down a hill when they met Abigail.

Or, tandis qu'elle cheminait sur son ânesse et qu'elle descendait cachée par les plis de la montagne, David et ses gens montaient par le même chemin, de sorte qu'elle les rencontra.

21 David had been saying to his men, “It was useless for us to protect that man and all his possessions here in this desert. We did not steal anything that belonged to him, but he has done evil to me in return for our good [things we did for him].

Et David disait: J'ai gardé équitablement dans le désert un homme injuste et tout ce qui lui appartenait, je n'ai jamais ordonné qu'on lui en prît la moindre chose, et il m'a rendu le mal pour le bien.

22 I hope/desire that God will strike me and kill me [IDM] if he or even one of his men [IDM] is still alive tomorrow morning!”

Que le Seigneur punisse David et le punisse encore, si de tout ce qui est à Nabal je laisse jusqu'à demain matin quelque chose en vie, ne fût-ce qu'un chien.

23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got down from her donkey and bowed before him, with her face touching the ground.

Et Abigaïl vit David; aussitôt, elle sauta de son ânesse, elle tomba devant David la face contre terre, et resta prosternée

24 Then she prostrated herself at David’s feet and said to him, “Sir, I deserve to be punished [for what my husband has done]. Please listen to what I say to you.

A ses pieds, disant: Ne fais retomber sur moi que ma propre iniquité, seigneur; que ta servante te parle; écoute les paroles de ta servante;

25 Please do not pay attention to [IDM] what this worthless man Nabal has said. His name means ‘fool’, and he surely is a foolish man. But I, who am [willing to be] your servant, did not see the messengers whom you sent to him.

Que mon seigneur ne fasse pas attention à cet homme de pestilence; car il est bien ce que son nom indique; il se nomme Nabal (fou), et la folie est avec lui. Mais moi, ta servante, je n'ai point vu les serviteurs de mon seigneur, que tu avais envoyés.

26 Yahweh has prevented you from getting revenge on anyone and killing anyone. I hope/desire that as surely as Yahweh lives and as surely as you live, your enemies will be [cursed] like Nabal will be.

Maintenant, mon seigneur, vive le Seigneur et vive ton âme! D'autant plus que ton Seigneur t'a empêché de verser le sang innocent et de te venger par ta main. Puissent ressembler à Nabal tes ennemis et ceux qui veulent nuire à mon seigneur.

27 I have brought a gift for you and for the men who are with you.

Accepte donc cette bénédiction que ta servante a apportée à mon seigneur; tu la distribueras aux serviteurs qui accompagnent mon seigneur.

28 Please forgive me if I have done anything wrong to you. Yahweh will surely [reward you by] allowing many of your descendants to become kings of Israel, because you are fighting the battles that Yahweh [wants you to fight]. And [I know that] throughout all your life you have not done anything wrong.

Détourne de ta servante la peine de l'iniquité, car le Seigneur, pour mon seigneur, édifiera certainement une maison sûre; le Seigneur combat pour mon seigneur en toutes ses batailles, et jamais le malheur ne se trouvera avec toi.

29 Even when those who are trying to kill you pursue you, you are safe, because Yahweh your God takes care of you. You will be [protected as though you were] [MET] a bundle that he has safely tied up. But your enemies will [disappear as fast as stones] that are hurled from a sling.

Et si un homme s'élève qui te poursuive, et en veuille à ta vie, l'âme de mon seigneur sera maintenue dans les liens de la vie par la volonté du Seigneur Dieu, et tu feras tournoyer la vie de tes adversaires, comme au milieu d'une fronde.

30 Yahweh has promised to do good things for you, and he will do what he has promised. And he will cause you to become the ruler of the Israeli people.

Et lorsque le Seigneur aura fait à mon seigneur tout le bien qu'il lui a promis, il te donnera la mission de régner sur Israël.

31 When that happens, [you will be glad that you did not kill any] people in Nabal’s household. You will not think that you deserve to be punished for having taken revenge yourself and killed innocent people. And when Yahweh enables you to successfully [become the king], please do not forget [to be kind to] me.”

Et mon seigneur n'aura point commis le péché et l'abomination de verser, sans cause, le sang innocent ni de se venger par sa main; et le Seigneur sera bienveillant pour mon seigneur; et tu te souviendras de ta servante, tu seras bienveillant pour elle.

32 David replied to Abigail, “I praise Yahweh, the God whom we Israelis [worship], because he sent you to [talk with] me.

Et David dit à Abigaïl: Béni soit le Seigneur Dieu d'Israël, qui t'a envoyée aujourd'hui au-devant de moi.

33 I hope/desire that Yahweh will bless you for being very wise. You have prevented me from taking revenge myself and killing many people [MTY] today.

Bénie sois ta résolution; bénie sois-tu toi-même, qui m'as empêché aujourd'hui de verser le sang innocent et de me venger par ma main.

34 Just as surely as Yahweh the God whom we Israelis [worship] is alive, he has prevented me from harming you. If you had not come quickly to talk to me, neither Nabal nor even one of Nabal’s men [IDM] would be still alive tomorrow morning.”

Mais, vive le Seigneur Dieu; vivant d'Israël, qui m'empêche aujourd'hui de te maltraiter! sans ton empressement à venir à ma rencontre, j'avais dit: de ne laisserai rien en vie chez Nabal jusqu'à demain matin.

35 Then David accepted the gifts that Abigail had brought to him. He said to her, “I hope/desire that things will go well for you. I have heard what you said, and I will do what you have requested.”

David prit de ses mains tout ce qu'elle lui avait apporté, et il lui dit: Retourne en paix à ta demeure. Vois, je t'ai accordé ce que tu m'as demandé, et je me suis réjoui de ta présence.

36 When Abigail returned to Nabal, he was in his house, having a big celebration like kings have. He was very drunk and feeling very happy. So Abigail did not say anything to him that night [about her meeting with David].

Abigaïl rentra donc chez Nabal, et il y avait en sa maison un festin comme un festin de roi; Nabal montrait la joie de son cœur; il était complètement ivre. Jusqu'aux lueurs du matin, sa femme ne lui dit aucune chose, grande ni petite.

37 The next morning, when he was no longer drunk, she told him everything [that had happened when she talked with David]. [Immediately] (he had a stroke/a blood vessel burst in his brain) and he became paralyzed [MET].

Le jour parut; comme Nabal avait cuvé son vin, elle lui raconta tout; aussitôt le cœur lui manqua et lui-même fut comme une pierre.

38 About ten days later Yahweh struck him [again] and he died.

Il passa en cet état dix jours; puis, le Seigneur l'ayant frappé, il expira.

39 After David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise Yahweh! Nabal insulted me, but Yahweh (vindicated me/got revenge for me). He has prevented me from [doing anything] wrong. And he has punished Nabal for the wrong that he did.” Then David sent [messengers] to Abigail, to ask her if she would become his wife.

David l'apprit, et il dit: Béni soit le Seigneur, qui a jugé l'outrage que j'avais reçu de Nabal, et qui a sauvé son serviteur des mains des méchants, et qui a fait retomber l'iniquité de Nabal sur sa tête. Ensuite, David envoya chez Abigaïl, et lui fit parler pour la prendre en mariage.

40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David sent us to take you to become his wife.”

Les serviteurs de David arrivèrent au Carmel chez Abigaïl, et ils lui parlèrent, disant: David nous a envoyés vers toi afin de te prendre pour sa femme.

41 Abigail bowed down with her face touching the ground. Then she told [the messengers to tell David], “[I am happy to become your wife]. I will be your servant. And I am willing to wash the feet of your slaves.”

A ces mots, elle se leva et elle se prosterna la face contre terre, et elle dit: Voici ta servante, emploie-la comme une esclave à laver les pieds de tes serviteurs.

42 Abigail quickly got on her donkey and went with David’s messengers. Five of her maids went with her. [When she arrived where David was, ] she became his wife.

Abigaïl se releva, elle monta sur une ânesse, cinq jeunes filles l'accompagnèrent; elle suivit les serviteurs de David, et elle fut sa femme.

43 David had previously married Ahinoam, a woman from Jezreel [town near Carmel]. So both Abigail and Ahinoam were now David’s wives.

David avait déjà épousé Achinaam de Jezraël; toutes les deux étaient ses femmes;

44 King Saul’s daughter Michal was also David’s wife, but Saul had given her to Laish’s son Paltiel, who was from Gallim [town].

Et Saül avait donné sa fille Michol, la femme de David, à Phalti, fils d'Amis de Rhomma.