1 Samuel 25

1 Et Samuel mourut; et tout Israël s’assembla, et se lamenta sur lui; et on l’enterra dans sa maison, à Rama. Et David se leva, et descendit au désert de Paran.

[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 Et il y avait à Maon un homme qui avait ses affaires à Carmel; et cet homme était très riche; il avait 3 000 moutons et 1 000 chèvres. Et il était à Carmel pendant qu’on tondait ses moutons.

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 Et le nom de l’homme était Nabal, et le nom de sa femme, Abigaïl; et la femme avait du bon sens et était belle de visage; et l’homme était dur et méchant dans ses actes; et 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 Et David apprit dans le désert que Nabal tondait ses moutons.

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

5 Et David envoya dix jeunes hommes; et David dit aux jeunes hommes: Montez à Carmel, et entrez chez Nabal, et saluez-le en mon nom;

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

6 et vous [lui] direz ainsi: Vis longtemps! et paix te soit, et paix à ta maison, et paix à 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 entendu dire que tu as les tondeurs; or tes bergers ont été avec nous, et nous ne les avons pas molestés, et rien n’a manqué du leur, tous les jours 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 Demande-le à tes jeunes gens et ils t’en informeront. Que les jeunes hommes trouvent donc grâce à tes yeux, car nous sommes venus dans un bon jour. Donne, je te prie, à tes serviteurs et à ton fils David ce que ta main trouvera.

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 Et les jeunes hommes de David vinrent et parlèrent à Nabal selon toutes ces paroles, au nom de David; et ils se tinrent tranquilles.

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 Et Nabal répondit aux serviteurs de David, et dit: Qui est David? Et qui est le fils d’Isaï? Aujourd’hui ils sont nombreux les serviteurs qui se sauvent chacun de son maître.

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 ma viande que j’ai tuée pour mes tondeurs, et je les donnerais à des hommes dont je ne sais d’où ils sont?

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 Et les jeunes hommes de David rebroussèrent chemin et s’en retournèrent; et ils vinrent et lui racontèrent selon toutes ces paroles.

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

13 Et David dit à ses hommes: Ceignez chacun votre épée. Et ils ceignirent chacun leur épée, et David aussi ceignit son épée. Et environ 400 hommes montèrent après David, et 200 restèrent près du bagage.

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 Et un jeune homme des gens [de Nabal] informa Abigaïl, femme de Nabal, disant: Voici, David a envoyé du désert des messagers pour bénir notre maître, et il s’est emporté contre 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 les hommes ont été très bons pour nous, et nous n’avons pas été molestés, et il n’a rien manqué de ce qui était à nous, tout le temps que nous avons marché avec eux pendant que nous étions aux champs.

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 ont été une muraille pour nous, de nuit et de jour, tout le temps que nous avons été avec eux, faisant paître le menu bétail.

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 Et maintenant, sache et vois ce que tu as à faire; car le mal est décidé contre notre maître et contre toute sa maison; et il est trop fils de Bélial pour qu’on parle avec lui.

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 Et Abigaïl se hâta, et prit 200 pains, et deux outres de vin, et cinq moutons tout apprêtés, et cinq mesures de grain rôti, et 100 gâteaux de raisins secs, et 200 gâteaux de figues sèches, et les mit 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 et elle dit à ses jeunes hommes: Passez devant moi; voici, je viens après vous. Et 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 Et comme elle descendait, montée sur son âne, à couvert de la montagne, voici, David et ses hommes descendaient au-devant 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 Et David avait dit: Certainement c’est en vain que j’ai gardé tout ce que cet [homme] avait au désert, et que rien n’a manqué de tout ce qui était à lui: il m’a rendu 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 fasse ainsi aux ennemis de David, et ainsi y ajoute, si, de tout ce qui est à lui, je laisse jusqu’à la lumière du matin un seul homme de reste.

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 Et Abigaïl vit David, et elle se hâta et descendit de dessus son âne; et elle tomba sur sa face devant David et 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 Et elle tomba à ses pieds, et dit: À moi l’iniquité, mon seigneur! Mais je te prie, que ta servante parle 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, je te prie, ne fasse pas attention à cet homme de Bélial, à Nabal; car il est tel que son nom: son nom est Nabal, et la folie est avec lui. Et moi, ta servante, je n’ai pas vu les jeunes hommes 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 Et maintenant, mon seigneur, l’Éternel est vivant et ton âme est vivante, que l’Éternel t’a empêché d’en venir au sang et de te faire justice par ta main. Et maintenant, que tes ennemis et ceux qui cherchent à faire du tort 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 Et maintenant, [voici] ce présent que ton esclave a apporté à mon seigneur pour qu’on le donne aux jeunes hommes 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 transgression de ta servante, car l’Éternel fera certainement une maison stable à mon seigneur; car mon seigneur combat les combats de l’Éternel, et la méchanceté n’a jamais été trouvée en toi.

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 Et un homme s’est levé pour te poursuivre et pour chercher ta vie, mais la vie de mon seigneur est liée dans le faisceau des vivants par-devers l’Éternel, ton Dieu; et l’âme de tes ennemis, il la lancera 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 Et il arrivera que, lorsque l’Éternel aura fait à mon seigneur selon tout le bien dont il a parlé à ton sujet, et qu’il t’aura établi prince 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 ceci ne sera point pour toi une occasion de chute, ni un achoppement pour le cœur de mon seigneur, d’avoir sans cause versé le sang, et que mon seigneur se soit fait justice à lui-même. Et quand l’Éternel 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 Et David dit à Abigaïl: Béni soit l’Éternel, le Dieu d’Israël, qui en ce jour t’a envoyée à ma rencontre!

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

33 Et bénie soit ta sagesse, et bénie sois-tu, toi qui en ce jour m’as empêché d’en venir au sang et de me faire justice par 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 Mais l’Éternel, le Dieu d’Israël, qui m’a empêché de te faire du tort, est vivant, que si tu ne t’étais hâtée et n’étais venue à ma rencontre, il ne serait pas resté à Nabal un seul homme jusqu’à la lumière du matin.

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 Et David prit de sa main ce qu’elle lui avait apporté, et il lui dit: Monte en paix dans ta maison; regarde, j’ai écouté ta voix, et je t’ai accueillie avec faveur.

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 Et Abigaïl vint vers Nabal; et voici, il faisait dans sa maison un festin comme un festin de roi; et le cœur de Nabal était gai, et il était ivre à l’excès; aussi elle ne lui raconta aucune chose, ni petite, ni grande, jusqu’à la lumière du matin.

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 Et il arriva le matin, quand le vin de Nabal eut passé, que sa femme lui rapporta ces choses; et son cœur mourut au-dedans de lui, 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 Et il arriva, environ dix jours après, que l’Éternel frappa Nabal, et il mourut.

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

39 Et David apprit que Nabal était mort, et il dit: Béni soit l’Éternel qui a pris en main ma cause touchant l’outrage que m’avait fait Nabal, et qui a retenu son serviteur de faire le mal! Et l’Éternel a fait retomber le mal de Nabal sur sa tête. Et David envoya parler à Abigaïl, afin de 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 Et les serviteurs de David vinrent vers Abigaïl, à Carmel, et lui parlèrent, disant: 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 Et elle se leva et se prosterna le visage contre terre, et dit: Voici, ta servante sera 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 Et Abigaïl se leva en hâte, et monta sur un âne, et ses cinq jeunes filles qui la suivaient; et elle s’en alla après les messagers de David, et fut 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 avait pris aussi Akhinoam de Jizreël, et elles furent toutes les deux 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 Et Saül avait donné Mical, sa fille, femme de David, à Palti, fils de Laïsh, qui était de Gallim.

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].