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 came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, facing the waste?

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, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, 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 Hachilah, which faces the waste, by the way side. And David abode in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,

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

David sent out spies, and learned that Saul was certainly come.

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 and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host; and Saul lay within the wagon-defence, and the people were encamped 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 spake and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

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.

And David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the wagon-defence, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay 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 Abishai said to David, God has delivered thine enemy into thy hand this day; and now let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the ground once, and I will not do it the second time.

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

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against Jehovah's anointed, and be guiltless?

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

And David said, [As] Jehovah liveth, Jehovah will surely smite him; either his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish.

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

Jehovah forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed! But now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

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 YHWH had fallen on them.

And David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head; and they went away, and no man saw [it], and none knew [it], and none awaked, for they were all asleep; for a deep sleep from Jehovah 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.

And David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space [being] 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 cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

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 Abner, Art not thou a man? and who is like to thee in Israel? and why hast thou not guarded thy lord the king? for one of the people came in to destroy the king thy lord.

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

This thing is not good which thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not guarded your master, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was 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 knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, 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 what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

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 YHWH; for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn't cling to YHWH's inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

And now, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If Jehovah have moved thee against me, let him accept an oblation; but if the sons of men, cursed be they before Jehovah; for they have driven me out this day from adhering to the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20 Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of YHWH; 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 earth far from the face of Jehovah; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as when they hunt a partridge on 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: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have acted foolishly, 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 king's spear, and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

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

And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for Jehovah gave thee into [my] hand this day, and I would not stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.

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

And behold, as thy life was highly esteemed this day in mine eyes, so let my life be highly esteemed in the eyes of Jehovah, that he may deliver me out of all distress.

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 thou, my son David: thou shalt certainly do [great things], and shalt certainly prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.