1 Samuel 26

1And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, 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 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 you. 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, Elohim 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 him the second time. 9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Yahuah'S anointed, and be guiltless? 10David said furthermore, the Yahuah liveth, the Yahuah shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11The Yahuah forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Yahuah'S anointed: but, I pray you, take you now the spear that 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 , nor knew , neither awaked: for they all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Yahuah 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 between them: 14And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest you not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who you criest to the king? 15And David said to Abner, not you a man? and who like to you in Israel? therefore then hast you not kept your lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord. 16This thing not good that you hast done. the Yahuah liveth, ye worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Yahuah'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear , and the cruse of water that at his bolster. 17And Saul knew David's voice, and said, this your voice, my son David? And David said, my voice, my lord, O king. 18And he said, therefore does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil in mine hand? 19Now therefore, I pray you, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the Yahuah have stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if the children of men, cursed they before the Yahuah; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Yahuah, saying, Go, serve other gods. 20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Yahuah: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains. 21Then 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. 22And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23The Yahuah render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Yahuah delivered you into hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Yahuah'S anointed. 24And, behold, as your life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Yahuah, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 25Then Saul said to David, Blessed you, my son David: you shall both do great , and also shall still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.