Then Abigailcameto Nabal,and behold,he was holding a feastin his house,like the feastof a king.And Nabal'sheartwas merrywithinhim, for he was verydrunk;so she did not tellhim anythingat alluntilthe morninglight.
Now it cameabout after two fullyearsthat Absalomhadsheepshearersin Baal-hazor,whichis nearEphraim,and Absalominvitedallthe king'ssons.
Absalomcommandedhis servants,saying,"Seenow,when Amnon'sheartis merrywith wine,and when I sayto you, 'StrikeAmnon,'then puthim to death.Do not fear;have not I myselfcommandedyou? Be courageousand be valiant."
Then Abnerand twentymenwith him cameto Davidat Hebron.And Davidmadea feastfor Abnerand the menwhowere with him.
They wentout at noon,while Ben-hadadwas drinkinghimself drunkin the temporaryshelterswith the thirty-twokingswho helpedhim.
It is wellwith the manwho is graciousand lends;He will maintainhis causein judgment.
Wineis a mocker,strongdrinka brawler,And whoeveris intoxicatedby it is not wise.
[Men] preparea mealfor enjoyment,and winemakeslifemerry,and moneyis the answerto everything.
The proudcrownof the drunkardsof Ephraimis troddenunder foot.
Woeto those who riseearlyin the morningthat they may pursuestrongdrink,Who stayup latein the eveningthat winemay inflamethem!
"I will makeher princesand her wisemendrunk,Her governors,her prefectsand her mightymen,That they may sleepa perpetualsleepand not wakeup," Declaresthe King,whose nameis the LORDof hosts.
Harlotry,wineand newwinetakeaway the understanding.
Liketangledthorns,And like those who are drunkenwith their drink,They are consumedAs stubblecompletelywithered.
"Behold,I sendyou out as sheepin the midstof wolves;sobe shrewdas serpentsand innocentas doves.
And He alsowent on to sayto the one who had invitedHim, "Whenyou givea luncheonora dinner,do not inviteyour friendsoryour brothersoryour relativesorrichneighbors,otherwisethey may alsoinvite you in returnand [that] will be your repayment.
"Be on guard,sothat your heartswill not be weighted downwith dissipationand drunkennessand the worriesof life,and that daywill not comeon you suddenlylikea trap;
Let us behaveproperlyas in the day,not in carousingand drunkenness,not in sexual promiscuityand sensuality,not in strifeand jealousy.
For this reasonit says,"Awake,sleeper,And arisefrom the dead,And Christwill shineon you."
And do not get drunkwith wine,for that is dissipation,but be filledwith the Spirit,
She saidto her youngmen,"Goon beforeme; behold,I am comingafteryou." But she did not tellher husbandNabal.
But in the morning,when the winehad goneout of Nabal,his wifetoldhim thesethings,and his heartdiedwithinhim so that he became[as] a stone.
