1 Samuel 26

1 Los zifitas fueron a ver a Saúl a Gabaa, diciendo: “¿No se esconde David en la colina de Hachilá, que está delante del desierto?”

One day [some of] the people of Ziph [town] went to Saul while he was at Gibeah, and they said to him, “David is hiding in a cave on Hakilah hill, across from Jeshimon [town].”

2 Entonces Saúl se levantó y bajó al desierto de Zif, llevando consigo a tres mil hombres escogidos de Israel, para buscar a David en el desierto de Zif.

So Saul chose 3,000 of the best Israeli soldiers and went with them to Ziph Desert to search for David.

3 Saúl acampó en la colina de Hachilá, que está antes del desierto, junto al camino. Pero David se quedó en el desierto, y vio que Saúl iba tras él por el desierto.

Saul and his men set up their tents close to the road on Hakilah hill, east of Jeshimon [town], but David [and his men] stayed in the desert. When David heard that Saul was searching for him,

4 David, pues, envió espías, y comprendió que Saúl había venido ciertamente.

he sent some spies to find out for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.

5 Entonces David se levantó y llegó al lugar donde Saúl había acampado, y vio el lugar donde yacía Saúl, con Abner hijo de Ner, jefe de su ejército. Saúl estaba acostado en el lugar de los carros, y el pueblo estaba acampado alrededor de él.

Then [that evening] David went to the place where Saul had set up his tent. [From a distance] he saw where Saul and his army commander, Abner, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping with all his army [sleeping] around him.

6 Entonces David respondió y dijo a Ahimelec el hitita y a Abisai, hijo de Sarvia, hermano de Joab: “¿Quién bajará conmigo a Saúl al campamento?”. Abisai dijo: “Bajaré con vosotros”.

David [went back to where his men were and] talked to Ahimelech, who was from the Heth people-group, and Joab’s brother Abishai, whose mother was [David’s older sister] Zeruiah. He asked them, “Who will go with me down into the camp where Saul is?” Abishai replied, “I will go with you.”

7 David y Abisai llegaron al pueblo de noche, y he aquí que Saúl yacía durmiendo en el lugar de los carros, con su lanza clavada en el suelo a la altura de su cabeza, y Abner y el pueblo yacían a su alrededor.

So that night David and Abishai crept into Saul’s camp. They saw that Saul was asleep. His spear was stuck in the ground near his head. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp. Abner [the army commander] and the other soldiers were sleeping around Saul.

8 Entonces Abisai dijo a David: “Dios ha entregado hoy a tu enemigo en tu mano. Ahora, pues, déjame herirlo con la lanza hasta la tierra de un solo golpe, y no lo heriré la segunda vez”.

Abishai whispered to David, “Today Yahweh has enabled us to kill your enemy! Allow me to fasten Saul to the ground [by thrusting] my spear into him. It will be necessary for me to strike him only once. I will not [need to] strike him twice.”

9 David dijo a Abisai: “No lo destruyas, porque ¿quién puede extender su mano contra el ungido de Yahvé y quedar libre de culpa?”

But David whispered to Abishai, “No, do not kill Saul. Yahweh has appointed him to be king, so Yahweh will surely [RHQ] punish anyone who kills him.

10 David respondió: “Vive Yahvé, que Yahvé lo golpeará; o le llegará el día de morir, o bajará a la batalla y perecerá.

Just as surely as Yahweh lives, he himself will punish Saul. Perhaps Yahweh will strike him when it is Saul’s time to die, or perhaps Saul will be killed in a battle.

11 Yahvé no permita que yo extienda mi mano contra el ungido de Yahvé; pero ahora, por favor, toma la lanza que está en su cabeza y la vasija de agua, y vámonos.”

But I hope/desire that Yahweh will prevent me from harming the king whom he has appointed. Let’s take Saul’s spear and water jug that are near his head. Then let’s get out of here!”

12 Entonces David tomó la lanza y la jarra de agua de la cabeza de Saúl, y se fueron. Nadie lo vio, ni lo supo, ni se despertó, pues todos estaban dormidos, porque un profundo sueño de Yahvé había caído sobre ellos.

So David took the spear and the jug, and he and Abishai left. No one saw them or knew what they were doing, and no one woke up, because Yahweh had caused them to be sound asleep.

13 Entonces David se pasó al otro lado y se puso en la cima del monte, muy lejos, habiendo un gran espacio entre ellos;

David and Abishai went across the valley and climbed to the top of the hill, a long way from Saul’s camp.

14 y David gritó al pueblo y a Abner, hijo de Ner, diciendo: “¿No respondes, Abner?” Entonces Abner respondió: “¿Quién eres tú que llamas al rey?”

Then David shouted to Abner, “Abner, can you hear me?” Abner [woke up and] replied “Who are you, [waking up] the king by calling out to him?”

15 David dijo a Abner: “¿No eres un hombre? ¿Quién es como tú en Israel? ¿Por qué, pues, no has velado por tu señor el rey? Porque uno del pueblo entró para destruir a tu señor el rey.

David replied, “[I am sure that] you are the greatest man in Israel [IRO, RHQ]! So why did you not guard your master, the king? Someone came into your camp in order to kill your master, the king.

16 No es bueno lo que has hecho. Vive Yahvé, que eres digno de morir, porque no has velado por tu señor, el ungido de Yahvé. Mira ahora dónde está la lanza del rey y la jarra de agua que estaba a su cabeza”.

You have done a very poor [job of guarding Saul]. So just as surely as Yahweh lives, you and your men should be executed! You have not guarded your master whom Yahweh appointed to be the king. Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were close to his head?”

17 Saúl reconoció la voz de David y dijo: “¿Es ésta tu voz, hijo mío David?” David dijo: “Es mi voz, mi señor, oh rey”.

[The shouting woke] Saul [up and he] recognized that it was David’s voice. He called out, saying, “My son David, is that your voice?” David replied, “Yes, your majesty it is my voice.”

18 Dijo: “¿Por qué persigue mi señor a su siervo? ¿Qué he hecho yo? ¿Qué mal hay en mi mano?

Then David added, “Sir, why are you pursuing me [RHQ]? What wrong have I done [RHQ]?

19 Ahora, pues, te ruego que mi señor el rey escuche las palabras de su siervo. Si es así que el Señor los ha incitado contra mí, que acepte una ofrenda. Pero si son los hijos de los hombres, malditos sean ante Yahvé, pues me han expulsado hoy para que no me aferre a la herencia de Yahvé, diciendo: “¡Vete a servir a otros dioses!”

Your majesty, listen to me! If Yahweh has caused you to be angry with me, I should offer a sacrifice [in order to appease him]. But if it is people who have caused you to be angry with me, I hope/desire that Yahweh will curse them. They have forced me to leave the land that Yahweh gave to me. They have told me, ‘Go somewhere else and worship other gods!’

20 Ahora, pues, no dejes que mi sangre caiga a la tierra lejos de la presencia de Yahvé, porque el rey de Israel ha salido a buscar una pulga, como cuando se caza una perdiz en el monte.”

Now do not force me to die [MTY] far from [where we worship] Yahweh. You, the king of Israel, have come here searching for me. [But I do not want to harm you]! I am [as harmless as] a flea [MET]. You are searching for me like people hunt for a bird in the mountains! [MET]”

21 Entonces Saúl dijo: “He pecado. Vuélvete, hijo mío David, porque ya no te haré más daño, ya que mi vida era preciosa a tus ojos hoy. He aquí que me he hecho el loco, y he errado mucho”.

Then Saul said, “David, my son. I have sinned [by trying to kill you]. So come back home. Today you have considered my life to be very valuable [and so you have not killed me]. So I will not try to harm you. I have made a big mistake and have acted foolishly.”

22 David respondió: “¡Mira la lanza, oh rey! Que uno de los jóvenes venga a buscarla.

David replied, [“will leave] your spear here. Send one of your young men here to get it.

23 El Señor pagará a cada uno su justicia y su fidelidad, porque el Señor te ha entregado hoy en mi mano, y yo no he querido extender mi mano contra el ungido del Señor.

Yahweh rewards us for the things that we do that are right and for being loyal [to him]. Even when Yahweh placed me where I could easily have killed you, I refused to do that, because you are the one whom Yahweh has appointed [MTY] to be the king.

24 Así como tu vida fue respetada hoy a mis ojos, que mi vida sea respetada a los ojos de Yahvé, y que él me libre de toda opresión.”

Just like I considered your life to be valuable [and spared your life] today, I hope/desire that Yahweh will consider my life to be valuable and [spare my life and] save me from all my troubles.”

25 Entonces Saúl dijo a David: “Bendito seas, hijo mío David. Harás lo que quieras, y seguro que vencerás”. Entonces David se fue, y Saúl volvió a su lugar.

Then Saul said to David, “My son David, I pray that Yahweh will bless you. You will do great things very successfully.” Then David returned to his men, and Saul went back home.