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.

---

¹ And the Ziphites ^H2130 came ^H935 unto Saul ^H7586 to Gibeah, ^H1390 saying, ^H559 Doth not David ^H1732 hide ^H5641 himself in the hill ^H1389 of Hachilah, ^H2444 which is before ^H6440 Jeshimon? ^H3452

² Then Saul ^H7586 arose, ^H6965 and went down ^H3381 to the wilderness ^H4057 of Ziph, ^H2128 having three ^H7969 thousand ^H505 chosen ^H977 men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 with him, to seek ^H1245 David ^H1732 in the wilderness ^H4057 of Ziph. ^H2128

³ And Saul ^H7586 pitched ^H2583 in the hill ^H1389 of Hachilah, ^H2444 which is before ^H6440 Jeshimon, ^H3452 by the way. ^H1870 But David ^H1732 abode ^H3427 in the wilderness, ^H4057 and he saw ^H7200 that Saul ^H7586 came ^H935 after ^H310 him into the wilderness. ^H4057

⁴ David ^H1732 therefore sent out ^H7971 spies, ^H7270 and understood ^H3045 that Saul ^H7586 was come ^H935 in very deed. ^H3559

⁵ And David ^H1732 arose, ^H6965 and came ^H935 to the place ^H4725 where Saul ^H7586 had pitched: ^H2583 and David ^H1732 beheld ^H7200 the place ^H4725 where Saul ^H7586 lay, ^H7901 and Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner, ^H5369 the captain ^H8269 of his host: ^H6635 and Saul ^H7586 lay ^H7901 in the trench, ^H4570 and the people ^H5971 pitched ^H2583 round about ^H5439 him.

⁶ Then answered ^H6030 David ^H1732 and said ^H559 to Ahimelech ^H288 the Hittite, ^H2850 and to Abishai ^H52 the son ^H1121 of Zeruiah, ^H6870 brother ^H251 to Joab, ^H3097 saying, ^H559 Who will go down ^H3381 with me to Saul ^H7586 to the camp? ^H4264 And Abishai ^H52 said, ^H559 I will go down ^H3381 with thee.

⁷ So David ^H1732 and Abishai ^H52 came ^H935 to the people ^H5971 by night: ^H3915 and, behold, Saul ^H7586 lay ^H7901 sleeping ^H3463 within the trench, ^H4570 and his spear ^H2595 stuck ^H4600 in the ground ^H776 at his bolster: ^H4763 but Abner ^H74 and the people ^H5971 lay ^H7901 round about ^H5439 him.

⁸ Then said ^H559 Abishai ^H52 to David, ^H1732 God ^H430 hath delivered ^H5462 thine enemy ^H341 into thine hand ^H3027 this day: ^H3117 now therefore let me smite ^H5221 him, I pray thee, with the spear ^H2595 even to the earth ^H776 at once, ^{H6471 H259} and I will not smite him the second time. ^H8138

⁹ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Abishai, ^H52 Destroy ^H7843 him not: for who can stretch forth ^H7971 his hand ^H3027 against the LORD'S ^H3068 anointed, ^H4899 and be guiltless? ^H5352

¹⁰ David ^H1732 said ^H559 furthermore, As the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 the LORD ^H3068 shall smite ^H5062 him; or his day ^H3117 shall come ^H935 to die; ^H4191 or he shall descend ^H3381 into battle, ^H4421 and perish. ^H5595

¹¹ The LORD ^H3068 forbid ^H2486 that I should stretch forth ^H7971 mine hand ^H3027 against the LORD'S ^H3068 anointed: ^H4899 but, I pray thee, take ^H3947 thou now the spear ^H2595 that is at his bolster, ^H4763 and the cruse ^H6835 of water, ^H4325 and let us go. ^H3212

¹² So David ^H1732 took ^H3947 the spear ^H2595 and the cruse ^H6835 of water ^H4325 from Saul's ^H7586 bolster; ^H7226 and they gat them away, ^H3212 and no man saw ^H7200 it, nor knew ^H3045 it, neither awaked: ^H6974 for they were all asleep; ^H3463 because a deep sleep ^H8639 from the LORD ^H3068 was fallen ^H5307 upon them.

¹³ Then David ^H1732 went over ^H5674 to the other side, ^H5676 and stood ^H5975 on the top ^H7218 of an hill ^H2022 afar off; ^H7350 a great ^H7227 space ^H4725 being between them:

¹⁴ And David ^H1732 cried ^H7121 to the people, ^H5971 and to Abner ^H74 the son ^H1121 of Ner, ^H5369 saying, ^H559 Answerest ^H6030 thou not, Abner? ^H74 Then Abner ^H74 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 Who art thou that criest ^H7121 to the king? ^H4428

¹⁵ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 to Abner, ^H74 Art not thou a valiant man? ^H376 and who is like to thee in Israel? ^H3478 wherefore then hast thou not kept ^H8104 thy lord ^H113 the king? ^H4428 for there came ^H935 one ^H259 of the people ^H5971 in to destroy ^H7843 the king ^H4428 thy lord. ^H113

¹⁶ This thing ^H1697 is not good ^H2896 that thou hast done. ^H6213 As the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 ye are worthy ^H1121 to die, ^H4194 because ye have not kept ^H8104 your master, ^H113 the LORD'S ^H3068 anointed. ^H4899 And now see ^H7200 where the king's ^H4428 spear ^H2595 is, and the cruse ^H6835 of water ^H4325 that was at his bolster. ^H4763

¹⁷ And Saul ^H7586 knew ^H5234 David's ^H1732 voice, ^H6963 and said, ^H559 Is this thy voice, ^H6963 my son ^H1121 David? ^H1732 And David ^H1732 said, ^H559 It is my voice, ^H6963 my lord, ^H113 O king. ^H4428

¹⁸ And he said, ^H559 Wherefore doth my lord ^H113 thus pursue ^H7291 after ^H310 his servant? ^H5650 for what have I done? ^H6213 or what evil ^H7451 is in mine hand? ^H3027

¹⁹ Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord ^H113 the king ^H4428 hear ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of his servant. ^H5650 If the LORD ^H3068 have stirred thee up ^H5496 against me, let him accept ^H7306 an offering: ^H4503 but if they be the children ^H1121 of men, ^H120 cursed ^H779 be they before ^H6440 the LORD; ^H3068 for they have driven ^H1644 me out this day ^H3117 from abiding ^H5596 in the inheritance ^H5159 of the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 Go, ^H3212 serve ^H5647 other ^H312 gods. ^H430

²⁰ Now therefore, let not my blood ^H1818 fall ^H5307 to the earth ^H776 before the face ^H6440 of the LORD: ^H3068 for the king ^H4428 of Israel ^H3478 is come out ^H3318 to seek ^H1245 a ^H259 flea, ^H6550 as when one doth hunt ^H7291 a partridge ^H7124 in the mountains. ^H2022

²¹ Then said ^H559 Saul, ^H7586 I have sinned: ^H2398 return, ^H7725 my son ^H1121 David: ^H1732 for I will no more do thee harm, ^H7489 because my soul ^H5315 was precious ^H3365 in thine eyes ^H5869 this day: ^H3117 behold, I have played the fool, ^H5528 and have erred ^H7686 exceedingly. ^{H7235 H3966}

²² And David ^H1732 answered ^H6030 and said, ^H559 Behold the king's ^H4428 spear! ^H2595 and let one ^H259 of the young men ^H5288 come over ^H5674 and fetch ^H3947 it.

²³ The LORD ^H3068 render ^H7725 to every man ^H376 his righteousness ^H6666 and his faithfulness: ^H530 for the LORD ^H3068 delivered ^H5414 thee into my hand ^H3027 to day, ^H3117 but I would ^H14 not stretch forth ^H7971 mine hand ^H3027 against the LORD'S ^H3068 anointed. ^H4899

²⁴ And, behold, as thy life ^H5315 was much set by ^H1431 this day ^H3117 in mine eyes, ^H5869 so let my life ^H5315 be much set by ^H1431 in the eyes ^H5869 of the LORD, ^H3068 and let him deliver ^H5337 me out of all tribulation. ^H6869

²⁵ Then Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 to David, ^H1732 Blessed ^H1288 be thou, my son ^H1121 David: ^H1732 thou shalt both do ^H6213 great ^H6213 things, and also shalt still ^H3201 prevail. ^H3201 So David ^H1732 went ^H3212 on his way, ^H1870 and Saul ^H7586 returned ^H7725 to his place. ^H4725

---

¹ And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?

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 encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, 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 of a certainty.

⁵ And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped 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 place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.

⁸ Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.

⁹ And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah's anointed, and be guiltless?

¹⁰ And David said, As Jehovah liveth, Jehovah will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.

¹¹ Jehovah forbid that I should put forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed: but now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

¹² 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 did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Jehovah was fallen upon them.

¹³ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain 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 watch over 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 Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.

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 pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

¹⁹ Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Jehovah that hath stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Jehovah: for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.

²⁰ Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Jehovah: 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 life 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 spear, O king! let then one of the young men come over and fetch it.

²³ And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch as Jehovah delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against Jehovah'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 Jehovah, 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 mightily, and shalt surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

---

¹ And the Ziphites come in unto Saul, at Gibeah, saying, `Is not David hiding himself in the height of Hachilah, on the front of the desert?'

² And Saul riseth, and goeth down unto the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand men, chosen ones of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

³ And Saul encampeth in the height of Hachilah, which `is' on the front of the desert, by the way, and David is abiding in the wilderness, and he seeth that Saul hath come after him in to the wilderness;

⁴ and David sendeth spies, and knoweth that Saul hath come unto Nachon,

⁵ and David riseth, and cometh in unto the place where Saul hath encamped, and David seeth the place where Saul hath lain, and Abner son of Ner, head of his host, and Saul is lying in the path, and the people are encamping round about him.

⁶ And David answereth and saith unto Ahimelech the Hittite, and unto Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, `Who doth go down with me unto Saul, unto the camp?' and Abishai saith, `I -- I go down with thee.'

⁷ And David cometh -- and Abishai -- unto the people by night, and lo, Saul is lying sleeping in the path, and his spear struck into the earth at his pillow, and abner and the people are lying round about him.

⁸ And Abishai saith unto David, `God hath shut up to-day thine enemy into thy hand; and, now, let me smite him, I pray thee, with a spear, even into the earth at once -- and I do repeat `it' to him.'

⁹ And David saith unto Abishai, `Destroy him not; for who hath put forth his hand against the anointed of Jehovah, and been acquitted?'

¹⁰ And David saith, `Jehovah liveth; except Jehovah doth smite him, or his day come that he hath died, or into battle he go down, and hath been consumed --

¹¹ far be it from me, by Jehovah, from putting forth my hand against the anointed of Jehovah; and, now, take, I pray thee, the spear which `is' at his pillow, and the cruse of water, and we go away.'

¹² And David taketh the spear, and the cruse of water at the pillow of Saul, and they go away, and there is none seeing, and there is none knowing, and there is none awaking, for all of them are sleeping, for a deep sleep `from' Jehovah hath fallen upon them.

¹³ And David passeth over to the other side, and standeth on the top of the hill afar off -- great `is' the place between them;

¹⁴ and David calleth unto the people, and unto Abner son of Ner, saying, `Dost thou not answer, Abner?' and Abner answereth and saith, `Who `art' thou `who' hast called unto the king?'

¹⁵ And David saith unto Abner, `Art not thou a man? and who `is' like thee in Israel? but why hast thou not watched over thy lord the king? for one of the people had come in to destroy the king, thy lord.

¹⁶ Not good is this thing which thou hast done; Jehovah liveth, but ye `are' sons of death, in that ye have not watched over your lord, over the anointed of Jehovah; and now, see where the king's spear `is', and the cruse of water which `is' at his bolster.'

¹⁷ And Saul discerneth the voice of David, and saith, `Is this thy voice, my son David?' and David saith, `My voice, my lord, O king!'

¹⁸ and he saith, `Why `is' this -- my lord is pursuing after his servant? for what have I done, and what `is' in my hand evil?

¹⁹ And, now, let, I pray thee, my lord the king hear the words of his servant: if Jehovah hath moved thee against me, let Him accept a present; and if the sons of men -- cursed `are' they before Jehovah, for they have cast me out to-day from being admitted into the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.

²⁰ `And now, let not my blood fall to the earth over-against the face of Jehovah, for the king of Israel hath come out to seek one flea, as `one' pursueth the partridge in mountains.'

²¹ And Saul saith, `I have sinned; turn back, my son David, for I do evil to thee no more, because that my soul hath been precious in thine eyes this day; lo, I have acted foolishly, and do err very greatly.'

²² And David answereth and saith, `Lo, the king's spear; and let one of the young men pass over, and receive it;

²³ and Jehovah doth turn back to each his righteousness and his faithfulness, in that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into `my' hand, and I have not been willing to put forth my hand against the anointed of Jehovah,

²⁴ and lo, as thy soul hath been great this day in mine eyes, so is my soul great in the eyes of Jehovah, and He doth deliver me out of all distress.'

²⁵ And Saul saith unto David, `Blessed `art' thou, my son David, also working thou dost work, and also prevailing thou dost prevail.' And David goeth on his way, and Saul hath turned back to his place.

---

¹ And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, facing the waste?

² And 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 encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which faces the waste, by the way side. And David abode in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,

⁴ David sent out spies, and learned that Saul was certainly come.

⁵ And David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host; and Saul lay within the wagon-defence, and the people were encamped round about him.

⁶ And David spake and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

⁷ And David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping within the wagon-defence, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.

⁸ And Abishai said to David, God has delivered thine enemy into thy hand this day; and now let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear, even to the ground once, and I will not do it the second time.

⁹ And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against Jehovah's anointed, and be guiltless?

¹⁰ And David said, [As] Jehovah liveth, Jehovah will surely smite him; either his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and perish.

¹¹ Jehovah forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed! But now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

¹² And David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head; and they went away, and no man saw [it], and none knew [it], and none awaked, for they were all asleep; for a deep sleep from Jehovah had fallen upon them.

¹³ And David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a 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 man? and who is like to thee in Israel? and why hast thou not guarded thy lord the king? for one of the people came in to destroy the king thy lord.

¹⁶ This thing is not good which thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not guarded your master, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.

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, Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

¹⁹ And now, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If Jehovah have moved thee against me, let him accept an oblation; but if the sons of men, cursed be they before Jehovah; for they have driven me out this day from adhering to the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.

²⁰ And now, let not my blood fall to the earth far from the face of Jehovah; for the king of Israel is come out to seek a single flea, as when they hunt a partridge on the mountains.

²¹ And Saul said, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have acted foolishly, 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 And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for Jehovah gave thee into [my] hand this day, and I would not stretch forth my hand against Jehovah's anointed.

²⁴ And behold, as thy life was highly esteemed this day in mine eyes, so let my life be highly esteemed in the eyes of Jehovah, that he may deliver me out of all distress.

²⁵ And Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt certainly do [great things], and shalt certainly prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

---

¹ The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doesn't David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?

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 Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, 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 of a certainty.

⁵ David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped 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? Abishai said, I will go down with you.

⁷ So 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 round about him.

⁸ Then said Abishai to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: 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.

⁹ David said to Abishai, Don't destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against Yahweh's anointed, and be guiltless?

¹⁰ David said, As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.

¹¹ Yahweh forbid that I should put forth my hand against Yahweh's anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.

¹² So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head; and they got them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh was fallen on them.

¹³ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;

¹⁴ and 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 cries to the king?

¹⁵ David said to Abner, Aren't you a [valiant] man? and who is like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king your lord.

¹⁶ This thing isn't good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh's anointed. Now see where the king's spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.

¹⁷ Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

¹⁸ He said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

¹⁹ Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Yahweh that has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Yahweh: for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn't cling to Yahweh's inheritance, saying, Go, serve other gods.

²⁰ Now therefore, don't let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yahweh: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one does hunt a partridge in the mountains.

²¹ Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

²² David answered, Behold the spear, O king! let then one of the young men come over and get it.

²³ Yahweh will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn't put forth my hand against Yahweh's anointed.

²⁴ Behold, as your life was much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Yahweh, and let him deliver me out of all oppression.

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

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¹ And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, and said, Is not David waiting secretly near us in the hill of Hachilah, before the waste land?

² Then Saul went down to the waste land of Ziph, taking with him three thousand of the best men of Israel, to make search for David in the waste land of Ziph.

³ And Saul put up his tents on the hill of Hachilah, which is in front of the waste land on the road. But David was in the waste land, and he saw that Saul was coming after him.

⁴ And so David sent out watchers, and got word from them that Saul was certainly coming.

⁵ And David got up and came to the place where Saul's tents were: and David had a view of the place where Saul was sleeping with Abner, the son of Ner, the captain of his army: and Saul was sleeping inside the ring of carts, and the tents of the people were all round him.

⁶ Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, Who will go down with me to the tents of Saul? And Abishai said, I will go down with you.

⁷ So David and Abishai came down to the army by night: and Saul was sleeping inside the ring of carts with his spear planted in the earth by his head: and Abner and the people were sleeping round him.

⁸ Then Abishai said to David, God has given up your hater into your hands today; now let me give him one blow through to the earth with his spear, and there will be no need to give him a second.

⁹ And David said to Abishai Do not put him to death; for who, without sin, may put out his hand against the man on whom the Lord has put the holy oil?

¹⁰ And David said, By the living Lord, the Lord will send destruction on him; the natural day of his death will come, or he will go into the fight and come to his end.

¹¹ Never will my hand be stretched out against the man marked with the holy oil; but take the spear which is by his head and the vessel of water, and let us go.

¹² So David took the spear and the vessel of water from Saul's head; and they got away without any man seeing them, or being conscious of their coming, or awaking; for they were all sleeping because a deep sleep from the Lord had come on them.

¹³ Then David went over to the other side, and took his place on the top of a mountain some distance away, with a great space between them;

¹⁴ And crying out to the people and to Abner, the son of Ner, David said, Have you no answer to give, Abner? Then Abner said, Who is that crying out to the king?

¹⁵ And David said to Abner, Are you not a man of war? is there any other like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? for one of the people came in to put the king your lord to death.

¹⁶ What you have done is not good. By the living Lord, death is the right fate for you, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the man on whom the Lord has put the holy oil. Now see, where is the king's spear, and the vessel of water which was by his head?

¹⁷ And Saul, conscious that the voice was David's, said, Is that your voice, David, my son? And David said, It is my voice, O my lord king.

¹⁸ And he said, Why does my lord go armed against his servant? what have I done? or what evil is there in me?

¹⁹ Let my lord the king give ear now to the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who is moving you against me, let him take an offering: but if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for driving me out today and keeping me from my place in the heritage of the Lord, saying, Go, be the servant of other gods.

²⁰ Then do not let my blood be drained out on the earth away from the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel has come out to take my life, like one going after birds in the mountains.

²¹ Then Saul said, I have done wrong: come back to me, David my son: I will do you no more wrong, because my life was dear to you today truly, I have been foolish and my error is very great.

²² Then David said, Here is the king's spear! let one of the young men come over and get it.

²³ And the Lord will give to every man the reward of his righteousness and his faith: because the Lord gave you into my hands today, and I would not put out my hand against the man who has been marked with the holy oil.

²⁴ And so, as your life was dear to me today, may my life be dear to the Lord, and may he make me free from all my troubles.

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, May a blessing be on you, David, my son; you will do great things and without doubt you will overcome. Then David went on his way, and Saul went back to his place.