1 Samuel 26

1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Look, David is hiding himself on the hill of Hakilah, which is near Jeshimon."

And the Ziphites come out of the dry country to Saul to the hill, saying, Behold, David hides himself with us in the hill Echela, opposite Jessemon.

2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him [went] three thousand men chosen out of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3 Saul camped on the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon, near the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

And Saul encamped in the hill of Echela in front of Jessemon, by the way, and David lived in the wilderness: and David saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come.

And David sent spies, and ascertained that Saul was come prepared out of Keila.

5 David arose, and came to the place where Saul had camped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were camped around him.

And David arose secretly, and goes into the place where Saul was sleeping, and there [was] Abenner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul was sleeping in a chariot, and the people had encamped along round about him.

6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hethite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you."

And David answered and spoke to Abimelech the Chettite, and to Abessa the son Saruia the brother of Joab, saying, Who will go in with me to Saul into the camp? And Abessa said, I will go in with you.

7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, look, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay around him.

So David and Abessa go in among the people by night: and behold, Saul was fast asleep in the chariot, and his spear was stuck in the ground near his head, and Abenner and his people slept round about him.

8 Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time."

And Abessa said to David, The Lord has this day shut up your enemy into your hands, and now I will strike him to the earth with the spear to the ground once [for all], and I will not strike him again.

9 David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah's anointed, and be guiltless?"

And David said to Abessa, Do not lay him low, for who shall lift up his hand against the anointed of the Lord, and be guiltless?

10 David said, "As Jehovah lives, Jehovah will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.

And David said, [As] the Lord lives, if the Lord strike him not, or his day come and he die, or he go down to battle and be added [to his fathers, do not so].

11 Jehovah forbid that I should put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go."

The Lord forbid it me that I should lift up my hand against the anointed of the Lord: and now take, I pray you, the spear from his bolster, and the pitcher of water, and let us return home.

12 So David took the spear and the jar of water at his head, and they went away. And no one saw it or knew about it, nor did any awake. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Jehovah had fallen on them.

So David took the spear, and the pitcher of water from his bolster, and they went home: and there was no one that saw, and no one that knew, and there was no one that awoke, all being asleep, for a stupor from the Lord had fallen upon them.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the hill some distance away; there was a great distance between them.

So David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, and [there was] a good distance between them.

14 And David called to the people, and to Abner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner replied, "Who are you that calls?"

And David called to the people, and spoke to Abenner, saying, Will you not answer, Abenner? and Abenner answered and said, Who are you that call?

15 David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.

And David said to Abenner, [Are] not you a man? and who [is] like you in Israel? Why then do you not guard your lord the king? for one out of the people went in to destroy your lord the king.

16 This thing isn't good that you have done. As Jehovah lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Jehovah's anointed. Now look, where is the king's spear, and where is the jar of water that was by his head?"

And this thing [is] not good which you have done. [As] the Lord lives, you are worthy of death, you who guard your lord the king, the anointed of the Lord: and now behold, I pray you, the spear of the king, and the cruse of water: where are the articles that should be at his head?

17 Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king."

And Saul recognized the voice of David, and said, [Is] this your voice, son David? and David said, I [am] your servant, [my] lord, O king.

18 He said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

And he said, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for in what have I sinned? and what unrighteousness has been found in me?

19 Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that God has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is from human beings, they are cursed before Jehovah; for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn't cling to Jehovah's inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

And now let my lord the king hear the word of his servant. If God stirs you up against me, let your offering be acceptable: but if the sons of men, they [are] cursed before the Lord, for they have cast me out this day so that I should not be established in the inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other Gods.

20 Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Jehovah; for the king of Israel has come out to seek my life, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

And now let not my blood fall to the ground before the Lord, for the king of Israel has come forth to seek your life, as the night hawk pursues [its prey] in the mountains.

21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David, for I will not harm you, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have behaved foolishly, and have made a great mistake."

And Saul said, I have sinned: turn, son David, for I will not hurt you, because my life was precious in your eyes; and today I have been foolish and have erred exceedingly.

22 And David answered and said, "Look, the king's spear. Now let one of the young men come over and get it.

And David answered and said, Behold, the spear of the king: let one of the servants come over and take it.

23 Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Jehovah delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn't put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.

And the Lord shall recompense each according to his righteousness and his truth, since the Lord delivered you this day into my hands, and I would not lift my hand against the Lord's anointed.

24 Look, as your life was respected this day in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the eyes of Jehovah, and let him deliver me out of all oppression."

And, behold, as your life has been precious this very day in my eyes, so let my life be precious before the Lord, and may he protect me, and deliver me out of all affliction.

25 Then Saul said to David, "You are blessed, my son. You will accomplish much, and will surely be successful." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

And Saul said to David, Blessed [be] you, [my] son; and you shall surely do valiantly, and surely prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.