1 Samuel 26

1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding in the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon?”

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

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.

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 Saul camped on the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness, and 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 abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 So David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.

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

5 David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped; he saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army; Saul lay in the camp, and the people were camped around him, all asleep.

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 army: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” Abishai said, “I! I will go down with you.”

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 thee.

7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. Saul was there sleeping inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and his soldiers lay around 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 head: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has put your enemy into your hand. Now please let me pin him to the ground with the spear with just one blow. I will not strike him a second time.”

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

9 David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can extend his hand against Yahweh's anointed one and be guiltless?”

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

10 David said, “As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will kill him, or his day will come to die, or he will go into battle and perish.

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

11 May Yahweh forbid that I should extend my hand against his anointed one; but now, I beg you, take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”

Yhwh forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against Yhwh's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now 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 from Saul's head, and they got away. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them.

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

13 Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain far off; a great distance was 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 David shouted out to the people and to Abner son of Ner; he said, “Do you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you who is shouting to the king?”

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, “Are not you a courageous man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your master the king? For someone came in to kill the king your master.

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16 This thing you have done is not good. As Yahweh lives, you deserve to die because you have not kept watch over your master, Yahweh's anointed one. Now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was near his head!”

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As Yhwh liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, Yhwh's anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.

17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my master, 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 master pursue his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

19 Now therefore, I beg you, let my master the king listen to the words of his servant. If it is Yahweh who has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering; but if it is human beings, may they be cursed in the sight of Yahweh, for they have today driven me out, that I should not cling to the inheritance of Yahweh; they have said to me, 'Go worship other gods.'

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

20 Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from Yahweh's presence; for the king of Israel has come out to look for the one flea as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

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

21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, David, my son; for I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes today. See, I have played the fool and have made a very bad mistake.”

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

22 David answered and said, “See, your spear is here, king! Let one of the young men come over and get it and bring it to you.

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

23 May Yahweh pay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh put you into my hand today, but I would not strike his anointed.

Yhwh render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for Yhwh delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against Yhwh's anointed.

24 See, as your life was precious in my eyes today, so may my life be much valued in the eyes of Yahweh, and may he rescue me out of all trouble.”

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

25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son! You will certainly do great things and you will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

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