1 Samuel 26
1. 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.
3. 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. David therefore sent out * spies * , and understood * that Saul was come * in very deed * .
5. 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. 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 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 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. And David said * to Abishai,Destroy * him not: for who can stretch forth * his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless * ?
10. David said * furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite * him; or his day shall come * to die * ; or he shall descend * into battle, and perish * .
11. The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth * mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take * thou 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 Saul's bolster; 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 the LORD was fallen * upon them.
13. 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 * 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. 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 is not good that thou hast done * . As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye 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 * David's voice, and said * , Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said * , It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18. 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 pray thee, let my lord the king hear * the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee 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 before the face of the LORD:for the king of Israel is come out * to seek * a flea, as when one doth hunt * a partridge in the mountains.
21. 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. And David answered * and said * , Behold the king's spear ! and let one of the young men come over * and fetch * it.
23. The LORD render * to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered * thee into my hand to day, but I would * not stretch forth * mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.
24. 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 the LORD, and let him deliver * me out of all tribulation.
25. 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.
