26:1 And the Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, [which is] before
Jeshimon?
26:2 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.
26:3 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.
26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul
had come in very deed.
26:5 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 in the
trench, and the people pitched around him.
26:6 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.
26:7 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 about him.
26:8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thy enemy
into thy 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.
26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can
stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed and be
guiltless?
26:10 David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD
will smite him; or his day will come to die; or he will descend
into battle and perish.
26:11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my 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.
26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's
bolster; and they departed, and no man saw [it], nor knew [it],
neither awaked: for they [were] all asleep: because a deep
sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.
26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the
top of a hill afar off; a great space [being] between them:
26:14 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?
26:15 And David said to Abner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man?
and who [is] like to thee in Israel? why then hast thou not
kept thy lord the king? for there came in one of the people to
destroy the king thy lord.
26:16 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.
26:17 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.
26:18 And he said, Why doth my lord thus pursue his servant? for
what have I done? or what evil [is] in my hand?
26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the
words of his servant. If the LORD hath stirred thee up against
me, let him accept an offering: but if [they are] 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.
26:20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before
the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel hath come out to
seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the
mountains.
26:21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I
will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thy
eyes this day: behold I have played the fool, and have erred
exceedingly.
26:22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and
let one of the young men come over and take it.
26:23 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 my hand against the
LORD'S anointed.
26:24 And behold, as thy life was precious this day in my eyes,
so let my life be precious in the eyes of the LORD, and let him
deliver me out of all tribulation.
26:25 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.
|