⁷ I hear that you are shearing.^[a] When your shepherds were with us, we did not harass them, and nothing of theirs was missing the whole time they were in Carmel.^{(A) 8} Ask your young men, and they will tell you. So let my young men find favor with you, for we have come on a feast^[b] day.^(B) Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

⁹ David’s young men went and said all these things to Nabal on David’s behalf,^[c] and they waited.^[d]