1 Samuel 26

1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul in Gibeah, saying, —Is not David hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, overlooking Jeshimon?

And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

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

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.

3 And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which overlooketh Jeshimon, by the way, —but, David, was staying in the wilderness, so he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness.

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 David therefore sent runners, —and took knowledge that Saul had come, for a certainty.

David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5 So then David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped, and David saw the place where Saul was lying, with Abner, son of Ner, prince of his host, —and, Saul, was lying within the circular trench, with, the people, encamped round about him.

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

6 And David responded, and said unto Ahimelech the Hittite, and unto Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, Who will go down with me unto Saul, within the camp? And Abishai said, I, will go down with thee.

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

7 So David came, with Abishai, unto the people by night, and lo! Saul lying asleep, within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground, at his head, —and Abner and the people lying round about him.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Then said Abishai unto David, God hath surrendered, to-day, thine enemy, into thy hand: Now, therefore, let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth, at one stroke, I, will not do it twice.

Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray you, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9 But David said unto Abishai, Do not destroy him, —for who that hath thrust forth his hand against the Anointed of Yahweh, shall be guiltless?

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?

10 And David said—By the life of Yahweh, surely, Yahweh himself, must smite him, —or, his day, must come that he die, or, into battle, must he go down, and be swept away.

David said furthermore, As the LORD lives, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11 Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should thrust forth my hand against the anointed of Yahweh! Now, therefore, take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go our way.

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray you, take you now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

12 So David took the spear, and the cruse of water, from near the head of Saul, and they went their way, —and no man saw, and no man knew, and no man awoke, for all of them were sleeping, for, a deep sleep from Yahweh, had fallen upon them.

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen on them.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side, and took his stand on the top of the mountain, afar off, —a great space, being between them.

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

14 And David cried aloud unto the people, and unto Abner son of Ner, saying, Wilt thou not answer, Abner? Then answered Abner, and said, Who art thou, that hast cried aloud unto the king?

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answer you not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you that cry to the king?

15 And David said unto Abner—Art not thou, a man? Who indeed is like thee, in Israel? Wherefore, then, hast thou not kept watch over thy lord, the king? For one of the people hath entered, to destroy the king—thy lord.

And David said to Abner, Are not you a valiant man? and who is like to you in Israel? why then have you not kept your lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.

16 Not good, is this thing which thou hast done, by the life of Yahweh, verily, worthy of death, ye are, in that ye have not kept watch over your lord, over, the Anointed of Yahweh. Now, therefore, see where the spear of the king is, and the cruse of water, that was at his head?

This thing is not good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

17 And Saul knew the voice of David, and said—Thy voice, is this, my son David? And David said, My voice, my lord O king!

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

18 And he said, Wherefore is it, that my lord is in pursuit of his servant? For what have I done? or what is in my hand that is wrong?

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, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant, —If, Yahweh, have goaded thee on against me, let him accept the sweet smell of a gift, but, if the sons of men, accursed, they are before Yahweh, for they have driven me out, to-day, from joining myself with the inheritance of Yahweh, saying—Go, serve other gods!

Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20 Now, therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth, away from the presence of Yahweh, —for the king of Israel hath come out to hunt for a single flea, as when one pursueth a partridge among the mountains.

Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.

21 Then said Saul—I have sinned, Return, my son David, for I will harm thee no more, because my life was precious in thine eyes, this day, —lo! I have acted foolishly and, greatly, erred.

Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22 And David responded, and said, Lo! the spear of the king! Let, therefore, one of the young men come over, and fetch it.

And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23 And let, Yahweh, give back to each man, his righteousness, and his faithfulness, —in that Yahweh delivered thee, to-day, into my hand, but I would not thrust forth my hand against the Anointed of Yahweh.

The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the LORD’s anointed.

24 Lo! then, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so, let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him rescue me out of all tribulation.

And, behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

25 Then said Saul unto David—Blessed, be thou, my son David, thou shalt both, do, and shalt, prevail. And David went on his way, but, Saul, returned unto his own place.

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do great things, and also shall still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.