"Nowtherefore, my lord,as the LORDlives,and as your soullives,sincethe LORDhas restrainedyou from sheddingblood,and from avengingyourself by your own hand,nowthen let your enemiesand those who seekevilagainstmy lord,be as Nabal.
Then Godsaidto him in the dream,"Yes,I knowthat in the integrityof your heartyou have donethis,and I alsokeptyou from sinningagainst Me; thereforeI did not letyou touchher.
Then the kingsaidto the Cushite,"Is it wellwith the youngmanAbsalom?"And the Cushiteanswered,"Let the enemiesof my lordthe king,and allwhoriseup againstyou for evil,be as that youngman!"
Elijahsaidto Elisha,"Stayhereplease,for the LORDhas sentme as faras Bethel."But Elishasaid,"As the LORDlivesand as you yourselflive,I will not leaveyou." So they wentdownto Bethel.
When the vesselswere full,she saidto her son,"Bringme anothervessel."And he saidto her, "Thereis not onevesselmore."And the oilstopped.
For by their own swordthey did not possessthe land,And their own armdid not savethem, But Your righthandand Your armand the lightof Your presence,For You favoredthem.
She doeshim goodand not evilAllthe daysof her life.
Becauseof them a cursewill be usedby allthe exilesfrom Judahwhoare in Babylon,saying,"May the LORDmakeyou like Zedekiahand like Ahab,whomthe kingof Babylonroastedin the fire,
"ThenDaniel,whosenameis Belteshazzar,was appalledfor a whileas his thoughtsalarmedhim. The kingrespondedand said,'Belteshazzar,do not let the dreamor its interpretationalarmyou.' Belteshazzarreplied,My lord,[if only] the dreamapplied to those who hateyou and its interpretationto your adversaries!
For we knowHim who said,"VENGEANCEIS MINE,I WILL REPAY."And again,"THE LORDWILL JUDGEHIS PEOPLE."
She said,"Oh,my lord!As your soullives,my lord,I am the womanwho stoodherebesideyou, prayingto the LORD.
"He keepsthe feetof His godlyones,But the wickedonesare silencedin darkness;For not by mightshall a manprevail.
So Jonathanmadea [covenant] with the houseof David,[saying], "May the LORDrequire[it] at the handsof David'senemies."
Yet Davidvowedagain,saying,"Your fatherknowswellthat I have foundfavorin your sight,and he has said,'Do not let Jonathanknowthis,orhe will be grieved.'But trulyas the LORDlivesand as your soullives,there is hardly a stepbetweenme and death."
And Davidwentfrom thereto Mizpahof Moab;and he saidto the kingof Moab,"Pleaselet my fatherand my mothercome[and stay] with you untilI knowwhatGodwill dofor me."
"Pleasedo not let my lordpayattentionto thisworthlessman,Nabal,for as his nameis, sois he. Nabalis his nameand follyis with him; but I your maidservantdid not seethe youngmenof my lordwhomyou sent.
When Davidheardthat Nabalwas dead,he said,"Blessedbe the LORD,whohas pleadedthe causeof my reproachfrom the handof Nabaland has keptbackHis servantfrom evil.The LORDhas also returnedthe evildoingof Nabalon his own head."Then Davidsenta proposalto Abigail,to takeher as his wife.
Davidalso said,"As the LORDlives,surelythe LORDwill strikehim, orhis daywill comethat he dies,orhe will godowninto battleand perish.
