1
And the Ziphites came to▵ Saul to Gibeah, saying, Does not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the face of Jeshimon?
2
And Saul arose and went··down to▵ the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men◦ of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3
And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the face Jeshimon on the way. And David dwelt in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came· after him ·into the wilderness.
4
And David sent spies, and he knew that Saul had come for a certainty.
5
And 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 commander◦ of his army; and Saul lay in the place of the carts, and the people were encamped around him.
6
And 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? And Abishai said, I◦ will go··down with thee.
7
And David came, and Abishai, to▵ the people, by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping in the place of carts, and his spear pressed··into the earth by his headrest; and Abner and the people lay around him.
8
And Abishai said to▵ David, God has this day shut up thine enemy into thy hand; and now, let me smite him, I pray◦ thee, with the spear, and into the earth one time◦, and I will not do· it to him ·twice.
9
And David said to▵ Abishai, Destroy him not; for who shall put··forth◦ his hand against Jehovah’s anointed, and be··innocent?
10
And David said, As Jehovah lives, Jehovah will strike him, or his day shall come and he will die; or he shall go··down into battle and be gathered.
11
Far··be··it from me before Jehovah, that I should put··forth◦ my hand against◦ the anointed of Jehovah; but now take, I pray◦ thee, the spear that is by his headrest, and the flask of water, and let us go.
12
And David took the spear and the flask of water from the headrest of Saul, and they went; and no··one saw, and no··one knew, and no··one awoke; for all of them were asleep, for a deep··sleep from Jehovah had fallen on them.
13
And David crossed··over the crossing, and stood on the head of the mountain afar··off, with much space* between them.
14
And David called to▵ the people, and to▵ Abner the son of Ner, saying, Dost thou not answer, Abner? And Abner answered and said, Who art thou◦ who callest to▵ the king?
15
And David said to▵ Abner, Art thou◦ not a man◦? And who is like▵ thee in Israel? And why hast thou not kept··watch for◦ thy lord the king? For there came··in one of the people to destroy the king thy lord.
16
This thing is not good which thou hast done. As Jehovah lives, you◦ are sons of death, in that you have not guarded over your lord, over the anointed of Jehovah. And now see where◦ the spear of the king is, and the flask of water that was by his headrest.
17
And Saul recognized the voice of David, 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 is this, that my lord pursues 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 it be Jehovah who incites thee against me, let Him smell a gift··offering. But if it be the sons of man, cursed be they◦ before Jehovah; for they have driven· me ·out today from attaching myself to the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20
And now, let not my blood fall to◦ the earth away from before Jehovah; for the king of Israel has gone··out to seek one flea, as he who pursues the partridge in the mountains.
21
And Saul said, I have sinned; return, my son David; for I will not do· thee ·evil any··more, because my soul was··precious in thine eyes today. Behold, I have been··senseless, and have erred very much.
22
And David answered and said, Behold the spear, O king; let one of the lads cross··over and take it.
23
And Jehovah will return to every man◦ his justice and his faithfulness; in that Jehovah gave thee into my hand this day, and I was· not ·willing to put··forth◦ my hand against Jehovah’s anointed.
24
And, behold, as◦ thy soul was··great this day in my eyes, so let my soul be··great in the eyes of Jehovah, and let Him rescue me from all adversity.
25
And Saul said to▵ David, Blessed be thou◦, my son David; even doing thou shalt do it and prevailing◦ thou shalt prevail◦. And David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
