在玛云有一个人，他的产业在迦密，是一个大富户，有三千绵羊，一千山羊。他正在迦密剪羊毛。
And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
那人名叫拿八，是迦勒族的人。他的妻名叫亚比该，是聪明俊美的妇人。拿八为人刚愎凶恶。
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
大卫在旷野听见说拿八剪羊毛，
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
要对那富户如此说，愿你平安，愿你家平安，愿你一切所有的都平安。
And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
现在我听说有人为你剪羊毛，你的牧人在迦密的时候和我们在一处，我们没有欺负他们，他们也未曾失落什么。
And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
可以问你的仆人，他们必告诉你。所以愿我的仆人在你眼前蒙恩，因为是在好日子来的。求你随手取点赐与仆人和你儿子大卫。
Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
大卫的仆人到了，将这话提大卫的名都告诉了拿八，就住了口。
And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
拿八回答大卫的仆人说，大卫是谁。耶西的儿子是谁。近来悖逆主人奔逃的仆人甚多，
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
我岂可将饮食和为我剪羊毛人所宰的肉给我不知道从哪里来的人呢。
Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
大卫向跟随他的人说，你们各人都要带上刀。众人就都带上刀，大卫也带上刀。跟随大卫上去的约有四百人，留下二百人看守器具。
And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.