1 Samuel 25

1 Y llegó la muerte a Samuel; y todo Israel se juntó, llorando por él, y lo enterraron en su casa en Ramá. Entonces David descendió al desierto de Maón.

[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 En Maón había un hombre cuyo negocio estaba en Carmel; era un gran hombre y tenía tres mil ovejas y mil cabras; y cortaba la lana de sus ovejas en 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 Este hombre se llamaba Nabal, y el nombre de su esposa era Abigail: era una mujer de buen sentido y de aspecto agradable: pero el hombre era cruel y malo en sus caminos; Era de la familia 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 Y David tuvo noticia en el desierto, de que Nabal estaba cortando la lana de sus ovejas.

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

5 Entonces David envió a diez jóvenes y les dijo: Suban a Carmel y vayan a Nabal, y salúdalo de mi parte.

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

6 Y dile esto a mi hermano: Que todos estén bien: la paz sea contigo y con tu casa y todo lo que tienes.

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 He sabido que tienes cortadores de lana. Tus pastores han estado con nosotros, y no les hemos hecho mal, y no hemos tomado nada de ellos mientras estaban en 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 Puedes interrogar a tus pastores, ellos dirán lo mismo. Así que ahora, que mis jóvenes tengan gracia en tus ojos, porque hemos llegado en un buen momento; por favor, cualquier cosa que tengas a la mano da a tus sirvientes y a tu hijo 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 Y cuando llegaron los jóvenes de David, dijeron todo esto a Nabal, en nombre de David, y no dijeron nada más.

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 Y Nabal les respondió y dijo: ¿Quién es David? ¿Quién es el hijo de Isai? Hay una serie de esclavos que en estos días huyen de sus amos.

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 ¿Debo tomar mi pan, mi vino y la carne que he preparado para mis cortadores de lana y dársela a los hombres que vienen de allí, no tengo idea de dónde?

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 Entonces los jóvenes de David, dándose la vuelta, regresaron y le contaron todo lo que había dicho.

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

13 Y David dijo a sus hombres: Ciñese con sus espadas, cada uno de ustedes. Y todo hombre puso su espada; y David hizo lo mismo; y cerca de cuatrocientos hombres subieron con David, y doscientos cuidaron sus bienes.

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 Pero uno de los jóvenes le dijo a la esposa de Nabal, Abigail, que David envió a hombres de las tierras baldías saludar a nuestro amo, y él les dio una respuesta grosera.

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 Pero estos hombres han sido muy buenos con nosotros; no nos hicieron nada malo y nada de lo nuestro fue tocado mientras estábamos con ellos en los campos:

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 Pero día y noche eran como un muro que nos rodeaba mientras estábamos con ellos, cuidando de las ovejas.

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 Ahora, piensa en lo que vas a hacer; porque el mal está reservado para nuestro amo y toda su casa, porque es una persona con mal genio que no es posible decirle nada.

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 Luego, Abigail tomó rápidamente doscientos pasteles de pan y dos pieles llenas de vino y cinco ovejas listas para cocinar y cinco medidas de grano seco y cien paquetes de uvas secas y doscientos pasteles de higos, luego cargó todo en los asnos.

[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 Y ella dijo a sus jóvenes: Pasa delante de mí y yo te seguiré. Pero ella no le dijo nada a su esposo Nabal.

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 Ahora, mientras ella bajaba al amparo de la montaña sobre su asno, David y sus hombres bajaron contra ella, y de repente ella se encontró cara a cara con ellos.

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 Entonces David había dicho: ¿De qué me sirve cuidar los bienes de este hombre en el desierto, para que no haya pérdida de nada de lo que era suyo? Solo me ha devuelto mal por 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 el castigo de Dios sea sobre David, si cuando llega la mañana hay un hombre de su pueblo que aún vive.

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 Y cuando Abigail vio a David, ella rápidamente se bajó del asno y cayó de bruces ante él.

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

24 Y cayendo a sus pies, ella dijo: Que el mal esté sobre mí, señor mío, sobre mí; permite que tu sierva te diga una palabra, y escucha las palabras de tu sierva.

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 mi señor no le preste atención a Nabal, que es perverso; porque como se llama, así es él, un hombre sin sentido. Pero yo, tu sierva, no vi a los jóvenes a quienes mi señor a enviado.

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 Ahora, mi señor, por el Dios viviente y por tu alma viviente, al ver que el Señor te ha impedido el crimen de sangre y de tomar en tus manos el castigo, que todos tus enemigos que te odian y los que querían hacer mal a mi señor, sean como 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 Y esta ofrenda que tu sierva da a mi señor, sea dada a los jóvenes que están con mi señor.

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

28 Y que el pecado de tu sierva tenga perdón: porque el Señor ciertamente fortalecerá a tu familia, porque mi señor está luchando en la guerra del Señor; y ningún mal se verá en ti todos tus días.

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 Y aunque un hombre haya tomado las armas contra ti, poniendo tu vida en peligro, el alma de mi señor se mantendrá segura bajo la protección del Señor del Señor tu Dios; y los que están contra ti se arrojados violentamente por él Señor, como quien tira piedras de una honda.

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 Y cuando el Señor haga por mi señor todas las cosas buenas que dijo que haría por ti, y te haga gobernante de Israel;

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 Entonces no tendrá pesar, y el corazón de mi señor no se turbará con remordimiento porque tomaste la vida inocente y de haberte hecho justicia por tu propia mano. Y cuando el Señor te haya prosperado, entonces piensa en tu sierva.

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 Y David dijo a Abigail: Alabado sea el Señor, el Dios de Israel, que te envió a mí encuentro.

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

33 Una bendición por tu buen consejo y para ti, que me ha impedido hoy el crimen de sangre y hacerme justicia con mi propia mano.

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 En verdad, por el Señor vivo, el Dios de Israel, que me ha impedido hacerte mal, si no hubieras sido tan rápida en venir a mí encuentro, al amanecer no habría habido hombre vivo en la casa de 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 Entonces David tomó de sus manos su ofrenda, y él le dijo: Vuelve a tu casa en paz; Mira, he oído tu voz y he tomado tu ofrenda con respeto.

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 Y Abigail volvió a Nabal; y él estaba festejando en su casa como un rey; y el corazón de Nabal estaba lleno de alegría, porque había tomado mucho vino; así que ella no le dijo nada hasta que llegó el alba.

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 Y por la mañana, cuando desapareció el efecto del vino, la esposa de Nabal le contó todas estas cosas, y le dio un ataque al corazón, y se quedó como piedra.

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 Y unos diez días después, el Señor hirió a Nabal y la muerte vino a él.

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

39 Y al enterarse David de que Nabal había muerto, dijo: Alabado sea él Señor, que tomó mi causa contra Nabal por la vergüenza que puso sobre mí, y ha guardado a su siervo del mal, y ha envió a la cabeza de Nabal la recompensa de su maldad. Y David envió un mensaje a Abigail, deseando tomarla como su esposa.

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 Cuando los criados de David vinieron a Carmel, a Abigail, le dijeron: David nos ha enviado por ti, para que te llevemos a él como su esposa.

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

41 Entonces ella se levantó e inclinándose a la tierra, dijo: Mira, estoy lista para ser una sirvienta, que lava los pies a los sirvientes de mi señor.

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 Entonces Abigail se levantó rápidamente y fue a por su asno, con cinco de sus jovencitas, tras los hombres que David había enviado; y ella se convirtió en la esposa de David.

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 Y David había tomado a Ahinoam de Jezreel como su esposa; estas dos eran sus esposas.

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

44 Entonces Saúl había entregado a su hija Mical, la esposa de David, a Palti, el hijo de Lais de Galim.

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].