Davidalso said,"As the LORDlives,surelythe LORDwill strikehim, orhis daywill comethat he dies,orhe will godowninto battleand perish.
Then the LORDsaidto Moses,"Behold,the timefor you to dieis near;callJoshua,and presentyourselves at the tentof meeting,that I may commissionhim." So Mosesand Joshuawentand presentedthemselves at the tentof meeting.
When the timefor Israelto diedrewnear,he calledhis sonJosephand saidto him, "Please,ifI have foundfavorin your sight,placenowyour handundermy thighand dealwith me in kindnessand faithfulness.Pleasedo not buryme in Egypt,
Nevertakeyour ownrevenge,beloved,but leaveroomfor the wrath[of God], for it is written,"VENGEANCEIS MINE,I WILL REPAY,"saysthe Lord.
The Lordlaughsat him, For He seeshis dayis coming.
Thus Sauldiedwith his threesons,his armorbearer,and allhis menon that daytogether.
About tendayslater, the LORDstruckNabaland he died.
"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.
Vengeanceis Mine, and retribution,In due timetheir footwill slip;For the dayof their calamityis near,And the impendingthingsare hasteningupon them.'
"For thisreasonin onedayher plagueswill come,pestilenceand mourningand famine,and she will be burnedup with fire;for the LordGodwho judgesher is strong.
And inasmuchas it is appointedfor mento dieonceand afterthis[comes] judgment,
now,will not Godbring aboutjusticefor His electwho cryto Him dayand night,and will He delay longoverthem?
A timeto givebirthand a timeto die;A timeto plantand a timeto uprootwhat is planted.
He has broughtbacktheir wickednessupon them And will destroythem in their evil;The LORDour Godwill destroythem.
Yeta littlewhileand the wickedmanwill be nomore;And you will lookcarefullyfor his placeand he will not be [there].
"Ifa mandies,will he live[again]? Allthe daysof my struggleI will waitUntilmy changecomes.
"Sincehis daysare determined,The numberof his monthsis with You; And his limitsYou have setso that he cannotpass.
"Is not manforcedto laboron earth,And [are not] his dayslike the daysof a hiredman?
"The LORDtherefore be judgeand decidebetweenyou and me; and may He seeand pleadmy causeand deliverme from your hand."
For we knowHim who said,"VENGEANCEIS MINE,I WILL REPAY."And again,"THE LORDWILL JUDGEHIS PEOPLE."
"May the LORDjudgebetweenyou and me, and may the LORDavengeme on you; but my handshall not be against you.
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.
Then Saulsaidto his armorbearer,"Drawyour swordand pierceme throughwith it, otherwisetheseuncircumcisedwill comeand pierceme throughand makesportof me." But his armorbearerwouldnot, for he was greatlyafraid.So Saultookhis swordand fellon it.
