1 Samuel 25

1 Cependant Samuel mourut et tout Israël s’assembla; on le pleura, et on l’enterra dans sa demeure, à Rama. Alors David se leva et descendit au désert de Pharan.

[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.

2 Il y avait à Maon un homme ayant ses biens à Carmel; c’était un homme très riche, il avait trois mille brebis et mille chèvres, et il se trouvait à Carmel pour la tonte de ses brebis.

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.

3 Le nom de cet homme était Nabal, et le nom de sa femme Abigaïl. La femme était pleine de sens, et de belle figure; mais l’homme était dur et méchant en actes; il était de la race de Caleb.

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].

4 David apprit au désert que Nabal tondait ses brebis.

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

5 David envoya dix jeunes gens, et David dit aux jeunes gens: « Montez à Carmel et allez trouver Nabal; vous le saluerez en mon nom,

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

6 et vous lui parlerez ainsi: Pour la vie! Que la paix soit avec toi, que la paix soit avec ta maison et que la paix soit avec tout ce qui t’appartient.

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.

7 Et maintenant, j’ai appris que tu as les tondeurs. Or, tes bergers ont été avec nous; nous ne leur avons causé aucune peine, et rien du troupeau ne leur a été enlevé pendant tout le temps qu’ils ont été à Carmel.

‘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.

8 Interroge tes serviteurs, et ils te le diront. Que les jeunes gens trouvent donc grâce à tes yeux, puisque nous venons dans un jour de joie. Donne, je te prie, à tes serviteurs et à ton fils David ce que ta main pourra trouver. »

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.’”

9 Lorsque les jeunes gens de David furent arrivés, ils répétèrent toutes ces paroles à Nabal au nom de David, et ils se reposèrent.

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.

10 Nabal répondit aux serviteurs de David et dit: « Qui est David, et qui est le fils d’Isaï? Ils sont nombreux aujourd’hui les serviteurs qui s’échappent de chez leurs maîtres.

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].

11 Et je prendrais mon pain et mon eau, et mon bétail que j’ai tué pour mes tondeurs, et je les donnerais à des gens qui viennent je ne sais d’où? »

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]

12 Les jeunes gens de David, rebroussant chemin, s’en retournèrent et, lorsqu’ils furent arrivés, ils lui redirent toutes ces paroles.

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

13 Alors David dit à ses hommes: « Que chacun de vous ceigne son épée! » Et ils ceignirent chacun leur épée, et David, lui aussi, ceignit son épée; environ quatre cents hommes montèrent à la suite de David; il en resta deux cents près des bagages.

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.

14 Un des serviteurs de Nabal vint apporter la nouvelle à Abigaïl en disant: « Voici que David a envoyé du désert des messagers pour saluer notre maître, qui s’est jeté sur eux.

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.

15 Et pourtant ces gens ont été bons pour nous; ils ne nous ont causé aucune peine, et rien ne nous a été enlevé tout le temps que nous avons cheminé avec eux, lorsque nous étions dans la campagne.

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.

16 Ils nous ont servi de rempart, aussi bien la nuit que le jour, tout le temps que nous avons été avec eux, paissant les troupeaux.

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.

17 Reconnais maintenant et vois ce que tu as à faire; car le mal est résolu contre notre maître et contre toute sa maison; pour lui, c’est un fils de Bélial, et on ne peut lui parler. »

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].”

18 Aussitôt Abigaïl prit deux cents pains, deux outres de vin, cinq moutons apprêtés, cinq mesures de grain rôti, cent masses de raisin sec et deux cents de figues sèches et, les ayant mis sur des ânes,

[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.

19 elle dit à ses jeunes gens: « Passez devant moi, je vous suis. » Mais elle ne dit rien à Nabal, son mari.

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].

20 Comme elle descendait, montée sur un âne, en un endroit couvert de la montagne, voici que David et ses hommes descendaient en face d’elle, et elle les rencontra. —

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.

21 David disait: « C’est bien en vain que j’ai surveillé tout ce que cet homme a dans le désert, et que rien n’a été enlevé de tout ce qu’il possède; il me rend le mal pour le bien!

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].

22 Que Dieu traite dans toute sa rigueur les ennemis de David! De tout ce qui appartient à Nabal, je ne laisserai rien subsister jusqu’au lever du jour, pas même celui qui urine contre le mur. »

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!”

23 Dès qu’Abigaïl aperçut David, elle s’empressa de descendre de l’âne et, tombant sur sa face devant David, elle se prosterna contre terre.

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

24 Puis elle se jeta à ses pieds, en disant: « Que sur moi, mon seigneur, sur moi soit la faute! Permets à ta servante de parler à tes oreilles, et écoute les paroles de ta servante!

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.

25 Que mon seigneur ne prenne pas garde à cet homme de Bélial, à Nabal, car il est ce que son nom indique; son nom est Le Fou, et il y a chez lui de la folie. Mais moi, ta servante, je n’ai pas vu les gens de mon seigneur, que tu as envoyés.

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.

26 Maintenant, mon seigneur, aussi vrai que Yahweh est vivant et que ton âme est vivante, Yahweh t’a préservé de répandre le sang et de te venger de ta main. Et maintenant, que tes ennemis et ceux qui veulent du mal à mon seigneur soient comme Nabal!

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.

27 Accepte donc ce présent que ta servante apporte à mon seigneur, et qu’il soit distribué aux jeunes gens qui marchent à la suite de mon seigneur.

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

28 Pardonne, je te prie, la faute de ta servante, car Yahweh fera certainement à mon seigneur une maison stable; car mon seigneur soutient les guerres de Yahweh, et on ne trouvera pas de mal en toi tout le temps de ta vie.

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.

29 S’il s’élève quelqu’un pour te poursuivre et en vouloir à ta vie, la vie de mon seigneur sera liée dans le faisceau des vivants auprès de Yahweh, ton Dieu, et la vie de tes ennemis, il la lancera au loin du creux de la fronde.

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.

30 Lorsque Yahweh aura fait à mon seigneur selon tout le bien qu’il a dit à ton sujet et qu’il t’aura établi chef sur Israël,

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.

31 ce ne sera pas pour toi un sujet de remords ni pour mon seigneur une souffrance de cœur d’avoir répandu le sang sans motif et s’être vengé lui-même. Et lorsque Yahweh aura fait du bien à mon seigneur, souviens-toi de ta servante. »

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.”

32 David dit à Abigaïl: « Béni soit Yahweh, le Dieu d’Israël, qui t’a envoyée, aujourd’hui à ma rencontre! Béni soit ton grand sens,

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

33 et bénie sois-tu, toi qui m’as empêché en ce jour de répandre le sang et de me venger de ma main!

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.

34 Autrement, aussi vrai que Yahweh, le Dieu d’Israël, qui m’a empêché de te faire du mal, est vivant, si tu ne t’étais pas hâtée de venir au-devant de moi, il ne fût rien resté à Nabal d’ici au lever du jour, pas même celui qui urine contre le mur. »

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.”

35 David prit de la main d’Abigaïl ce qu’elle lui avait apporté, et lui dit: « Monte en paix dans ta maison; vois, j’ai écouté ta voix et relevé ton visage! »

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.”

36 Abigaïl retourna vers Nabal, et voici qu’il faisait dans sa maison un festin comme un festin de roi; et le cœur de Nabal était joyeux, et il était complètement ivre. Elle ne lui apprit ni peu, ni beaucoup, jusqu’au lever du jour.

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].

37 Mais le matin, quand Nabal fut revenu de son ivresse, sa femme lui raconta ces choses, et son cœur en reçut un coup mortel, et il devint comme une pierre.

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].

38 Environ dix jours après, Yahweh frappa Nabal, et il mourut.

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

39 Lorsque David apprit la mort de Nabal, il dit: « Béni soit Yahweh qui a défendu ma cause et m’a vengé de l’outrage que j’ai reçu de la main de Nabal, et qui a empêché son serviteur de faire le mal! Yahweh a fait retomber la méchanceté de Nabal sur sa tête. » Ensuite David envoya dire à Abigaïl qu’il voulait la prendre pour femme.

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.

40 Arrivés chez Abigaïl à Carmel, les serviteurs de David lui parlèrent ainsi: « David nous a envoyés vers toi, afin de te prendre pour sa femme. »

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

41 Elle se leva et, s’étant prosternée le visage contre terre, elle dit: « Voici que ta servante est comme une esclave pour laver les pieds des serviteurs de mon seigneur! »

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.”

42 Aussitôt Abigaïl se leva et monta sur un âne, et cinq de ses jeunes filles allaient sur ses pas; elle suivit les messagers de David, et elle devint sa femme.

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.

43 David prit aussi Achinoam de Jezraël, et toutes les deux furent ses femmes.

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

44 Mais Saül avait donné sa fille Michol, femme de David, à Phalti de Gallim, fils de Laïs.

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].