1 Samuel 26
Lexham English Bible
1The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah opposite Jeshimon?”
2Then Saul got up and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3Now Saul was on the hill of Hakilah, which is opposite Jeshimon by the road, but David was staying in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had come to the wilderness after him,
4David sent spies, and he learned that Saul had come ⌞for certain⌟.
5Then David got up and came to the place where Saul had encamped, and David saw the place where Saul was lying down, ⌞as well as⌟ Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. (Now Saul was lying in the encampment, and the army was encamping around him.)
6David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah the brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul, in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7So David and Abishai came to the army by night, and ⌞there was⌟ Saul lying asleep in the encampment with his spear thrust into the ground near his head, and Abner and the army were lying all around him.
8Then Abishai said to David, “God has handed over your enemy into your hand today! So then, ⌞please let me pin him to the ground with the spear⌟ ⌞one time⌟, and ⌞I will not strike him twice⌟.”
9But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him! For who has stretched out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed one and remained blameless?”
10And David said, “⌞As Yahweh lives⌟, ⌞certainly⌟ Yahweh will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down in the battle and ⌞perish⌟.
11⌞Yahweh forbid me⌟ from stretching out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed one! So then, please take the spear that is near his head and the jar of water, and let us go.”
12So David took the spear and the jar of water from near Saul’s head, and they went away. ⌞No one saw, no one knew, and no one awakened⌟, for all of them were sleeping because a deep sleep of Yahweh had fallen upon them.
13Then David went to the other side and stood on the top of the hill at a distance; the distance was great between them.
14David called out to the army and to Abner the son of Ner, “Will you not answer, Abner?” And Abner answered and said, “Who are you that you call to the king?”
15So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why did you not keep watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy your lord the king.
16This thing that you have done is not good. ⌞As Yahweh lives⌟, ⌞surely you people deserve to die⌟ since you have not kept watch over your lord, over Yahweh’s anointed one! So then, see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was near his head!”
17Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.”
18Then he said, “Why is my lord pursuing after his servant? For what have I done? And what evil is in my hand?
19And so then, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant: If Yahweh has incited you against me, may he delight in an offering; but if ⌞it is mortals⌟, may they be accursed ⌞before⌟ Yahweh, for they have driven me away today from sharing in the inheritance of Yahweh, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
20And so then, do not let my blood fall to the ground ⌞away from⌟ the presence of Yahweh, for the king of Israel has gone out to seek a single flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned! Come back, David my son, for I will not harm you again, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have acted like a fool and ⌞have made a terrible mistake⌟.”
22David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear; let one of the young men come over and take it.
23Yahweh repays to each one his righteousness and his faithfulness, for Yahweh gave you into my hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed.
24Look, as your life was precious in my eyes this day, may my life be great in the eyes of Yahweh, and may he rescue me from all trouble.”
25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; ⌞you will not only do many things, but also will always succeed⌟!” Then David went on his way and Saul returned to his place.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y VINIERON los Zipheos á Saúl en Gabaa, diciendo: ¿No está David escondido en el collado de Hachîla delante del desierto?
2Saúl entonces se levantó, y descendió al desierto de Ziph, llevando consigo tres mil hombres escogidos de Israel, para buscar á David en el desierto de Ziph.
3Y asentó Saúl el campo en el collado de Hachîla, que está delante del desierto junto al camino. Y estaba David en el desierto, y entendió que Saúl le seguía en el desierto.
4David por tanto envió espías, y entendió por cierto que Saúl había venido.
5Y levantóse David, y vino al sitio donde Saúl había asentado el campo; y miró David el lugar donde dormía Saúl, y Abner hijo de Ner, general de su ejército. Y estaba Saúl durmiendo en la trinchera, y el pueblo por el campo en derredor de él.
6Entonces habló David, y requirió á Ahimelech Hetheo, y á Abisai hijo de Sarvia, hermano de Joab, diciendo: ¿Quién descenderá conmigo á Saúl al campo? Y dijo Abisai: Yo descenderé contigo.
7David pues y Abisai vinieron al pueblo de noche: y he aquí Saúl que estaba tendido durmiendo en la trinchera, y su lanza hincada en tierra á su cabecera; y Abner y el pueblo estaban alrededor de él tendidos.
8Entonces dijo Abisai á David: Hoy ha Dios entregado á tu enemigo en tus manos: ahora pues, herirélo luego con la lanza, cosiéndole con la tierra de un golpe, y no segundaré.
9Y David respondió á Abisai: No le mates: porque ¿quién extenderá su mano contra el ungido de Jehová, y será inocente?
10Dijo además David: Vive Jehová, que si Jehová no lo hiriere, ó que su día llegue para que muera, ó que descendiendo en batalla perezca,
11Guárdeme Jehová de extender mi mano contra el ungido de Jehová; empero toma ahora la lanza que está á su cabecera, y la botija del agua, y vámonos.
12Llevóse pues David la lanza y la botija de agua de la cabecera de Saúl, y fuéronse; que no hubo nadie que viese, ni entendiese, ni velase, pues todos dormían: porque un profundo sueño enviado de Jehová había caído sobre ellos.
13Y pasando David de la otra parte, púsose desviado en la cumbre del monte, habiendo grande distancia entre ellos;
14Y dió voces David al pueblo, y á Abner hijo de Ner, diciendo: ¿No respondes, Abner? Entonces Abner respondió y dijo: ¿Quién eres tú que das voces al rey?
15Y dijo David á Abner: ¿No eres varón tú? ¿y quién hay como tú en Israel? ¿por qué pues no has guardado al rey tu señor? que ha entrado uno del pueblo á matar á tu señor el rey.
16Esto que has hecho, no está bien. Vive Jehová, que sois dignos de muerte, que no habéis guardado á vuestro señor, al ungido de Jehová. Mira pues ahora dónde está la lanza del rey, y la botija del agua que estaba á su cabecera.
17Y conociendo Saúl la voz de David, dijo: ¿No es esta tu voz, hijo mío David? Y David respondió: Mi voz es, rey señor mío.
18Y dijo: ¿Por qué persigue así mi señor á su siervo? ¿qué he hecho? ¿qué mal hay en mi mano?
19Ruego pues, que el rey mi señor oiga ahora las palabras de su siervo. Si Jehová te incita contra mí, acepte un sacrificio: mas si fueren hijos de hombres, malditos ellos en presencia de Jehová, que me han echado hoy para que no me junte en la heredad de Jehová, diciendo: Ve y sirve á dioses ajenos.
20No caiga pues ahora mi sangre en tierra delante de Jehová: porque ha salido el rey de Israel á buscar una pulga, así como quien persigue una perdiz por los montes.
21Entonces dijo Saúl: He pecado: vuélvete, hijo mío David, que ningún mal te haré más, pues que mi vida ha sido estimada hoy en tus ojos. He aquí, yo he hecho neciamente, y he errado en gran manera.
22Y David respondió, y dijo: He aquí la lanza del rey; pase acá uno de los criados, y tómela.
23Y Jehová pague á cada uno su justicia y su lealtad: que Jehová te había entregado hoy en mi mano, mas yo no quise extender mi mano sobre el ungido de Jehová.
24Y he aquí, como tu vida ha sido estimada hoy en mis ojos, así sea mi vida estimada en los ojos de Jehová, y me libre de toda aflicción.
25Y Saúl dijo á David: Bendito eres tú, hijo mío David; sin duda ejecutarás tú grandes empresas, y prevalecerás. Entonces David se fué su camino, y Saúl se volvió á su lugar.
King James Version
1And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
2Then 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.
3And 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.
4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5And 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.
6Then 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.
7So 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.
8Then 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.
9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?
10David 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.
11The 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.
12So 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.
13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
14And 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?
15And 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.
16This 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.
17And 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.
18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
19Now 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.
20Now 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.
21Then 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.
22And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23The 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.
24And, 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.
25Then 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.
World English Bible
1The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, “Doesn’t David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?”
2Then 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.
3Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come.
5Then David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army. Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped around him.
6Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, 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.
8Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered up your enemy into your hand today. 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.”
9David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
10David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him; or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down into battle and perish.
11The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain far away, a great space being between them;
14and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Don’t you answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15David 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 your lord the king.
16This thing isn’t good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
17Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”
18He said, “Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What evil is in my hand?
19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that the LORD has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before the LORD; for they have driven me out today that I shouldn’t cling to the LORD’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
20Now therefore, don’t let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
22David answered, “Behold the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it.
23The LORD will give to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because the LORD delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed.
24Behold, as your life was respected today in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the LORD’s eyes, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.”
25Then Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son David. You will both do mightily, and will surely prevail.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.