1 Samuel 25

1 Samuel étant mort, tous les Israélites s’assemblèrent pour mener son deuil et l’ensevelirent dans sa demeure, à Rama. David se mit en route et se dirigea vers le 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 Or, il y avait un homme à Maon, ayant son bien à Carmel; cet homme était très notable, possédait trois mille brebis et mille chèvres, et il assistait à la tonte de son bétail à Carmel.

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 Cet homme avait nom Nabal, et sa femme s’appelait Abigaïl. La femme était intelligente et belle, l’homme dur et de mauvaise conduite; c’était un Calébite.

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, ayant appris dans le désert que Nabal faisait tondre son bétail,

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

5 envoya dix serviteurs en leur disant: "Montez à Carmel, allez trouver 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 direz: Ainsi soit pour la vie! Sois en paix, en paix ta maison, en paix 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 Or, j’ai appris qu’on fait pour toi la tonte; tant que tes bergers ont été près de nous, nous ne les avons pas molestés, ils n’ont éprouvé aucune perte tout le temps de leur séjour 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 à tes gens, qu’ils te le disent! Et que mes serviteurs trouvent bon accueil auprès de toi, puisque nous sommes venus en un jour de fête. Veuille donner ce dont tu peux disposer à tes serviteurs et à ton fils David."

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 Les serviteurs de David y allèrent et dirent fidèlement toutes ces paroles à Nabal de la part de David; puis ils attendirent.

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: "Qui est David? Qui est le fils de Jessé? Il y a beaucoup de serviteurs aujourd’hui qui s’émancipent 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, mon eau, mes bêtes que j’ai tuées pour mes tondeurs, et je les donnerais à des hommes venus 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 serviteurs de David rebroussèrent chemin et, de retour, lui rapportèrent toutes ces paroles.

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

13 Et David leur dit: "Que chacun de vous ceigne son épée! Et chacun ceignit son épée, David aussi ceignit la sienne, et ils montèrent à la suite de David, au nombre d’environ quatre cents hommes, et deux cents restèrent 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 Cependant un des serviteurs informa Abigaïl, femme de Nabal, en disant: "David avait envoyé des hommes chargés de saluer notre maître, mais celui-ci les a rudoyés.

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 Or, ces hommes étaient très bons pour nous; nous n’avons subi aucun désagrément, aucune perte, tout le temps que nous avons frayé avec eux, 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 nous ont servi de rempart la nuit comme le jour, tant que nous avons été avec eux, paissant le 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 Avise maintenant à prendre un parti, car c’en est fait de notre maître et de toute sa maison; il est d’ailleurs trop violent pour qu’on ose 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 AbigaïI, en toute hâte, prit deux cents pains, deux outres de vin, cinq brebis tout accommodées, cinq mesures de froment grillé, cent gâteaux de raisins secs et deux cents gâteaux de figues, qu’elle fit charger 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 serviteurs: "Passez devant moi, je vous suis"; mais à son époux Nabal elle n’en dit rien.

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 Or, tandis que, montée sur un âne, elle descendait par un pli de la montagne, David et ses hommes descendaient à l’opposite; 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 avait dit: "C’Est donc en vain que j’ai préservé tout ce que cet homme possédait dans le désert, de sorte qu’il n’a éprouvé aucune perte! Et lui 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 en fasse autant et plus aux ennemis de David, si d’ici au point du jour je laisse subsister, de ce qui lui appartient, la moindre créature!"

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 Abigaïl, en voyant David, descendit de l’âne en toute hâte, se jeta sur la face devant David et se prosterna par 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 et dit: "A moi, seigneur, à moi la faute! Mais permets à ta servante de t’adresser quelques mots, 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 s’occupe pas de cet homme indigne, de Nabal, car il ressemble à son nom: Nabal il se nomme, et nabal est son caractère. Pour moi, ta servante, je n’ai pas vu les jeunes gens envoyés par mon seigneur.

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, seigneur, j’en atteste le Dieu vivant et ta propre vie, ce Dieu qui t’aura préservé de t’engager dans le sang et de te venger par ta propre main, oui, ils seront comme Nabal, tes ennemis, ceux qui veulent du mal à mon seigneur.

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 Quant au présent que ta servante a apporté à son seigneur, qu’il soit remis aux jeunes gens de sa suite.

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

28 Daigne faire grâce à ta servante! Certes, l’Eternel donnera à ta maison, seigneur, une existence durable, car ce sont les guerres de l’Eternel que tu soutiens, et, de ta vie, le malheur ne t’atteindra.

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 Que si on s’avisait de t’attaquer et d’en vouloir à ta vie, l’existence de mon seigneur restera liée au faisceau des vivants que protège l’Eternel, ton Dieu, tandis qu’il lancera au loin, avec la fronde, celle de tes ennemis.

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 Or, quand l’Eternel aura accompli pour toi, seigneur, tout le bien qu’il t’a promis, et qu’il t’aura institué chef d’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 il ne faut pas que ceci devienne pour toi, seigneur, un écueil, une cause de remords, d’avoir versé le sang inutilement, et de t’être fait justice toi-même. L’Eternel te rendra heureux, seigneur, et tu te souviendras 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 répondit à Abigaïl: "Béni soit l’Eternel, Dieu d’Israël, de t’avoir envoyée aujourd’hui 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 prudence et bénie sois-tu, toi qui m’as empêché aujourd’hui de m’engager dans le sang et de demander secours à ma propre 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 certes, par l’Eternel, Dieu d’Israël, qui m’a préservé de te faire du mal, si tu n’avais pas pris les devants en venant à moi, certes, d’ici au point du jour pas la moindre créature ne fût restée à Nabal!"

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 accepta de sa main ce qu’elle lui avait apporté, et lui dit: "Retourne en paix chez toi; vois, j’ai cédé à ta parole et t’ai fait bon accueil."

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 rejoignit Nabab qui faisait alors chez lui un vrai festin de roi, était en belle humeur et s’était enivré à l’excès. Elle ne lui adressa pas une parole jusqu’au lendemain 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 Au matin, l’ivresse de Nabal étant dissipée, sa femme lui conta ces faits; il sentit son cœur défaillir et 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, Nabal, frappé d’un coup du ciel, expirait.

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

39 En apprenant la mort de Nabal, David dit: "Béni soit le Seigneur, qui s’est intéressé à mon injure et en a puni Nabal! Il a épargné un méfait à son serviteur, et le méfait de Nabal, il l’a fait retomber sur sa tête." Puis David envoya faire parler à Abigaïl, désirant 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 Les serviteurs de David vinrent trouver Abigaïl à Carmel, et lui dirent: "David nous a envoyés vers toi, voulant te prendre pour épouse."

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

41 Et elle se leva, se prosterna la face contre terre et dit: "Ta servante est prête à laver, comme esclave, les pieds des serviteurs de mon maître."

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 Abigail se releva et monta sur un âne, suivie par ses cinq servantes elle partit à la suite des envoyés de David et devint son épouse.

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 également épousé Ahinoam, de Jezreël, de sorte qu’il les eut toutes deux pour femmes.

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

44 Pour Saül, il avait fait épouser Mikhal, sa fille, femme de David, par Palti, fils de Layich, 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].