1 Samuel 26
26:1And the Ziphites come to the hill to Saul, saying, Behold, David is sheltered with us in the hill of Hachilah, against the face of Jeshimon.
26:2And Saul rose up, and went down unto the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
26:3And Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, against the face of Jeshimon, upon the way. And David stayed in the wilderness. And David saw that Saul comes after him into the wilderness.
26:4And David sent spies, and he knew that Saul was come prepared from there.
26:5And David rose up in private, and went into the place where Saul was sleeping there. And David saw the place where Saul went to bed there. And Abner son of Ner his commander-in-chief was there. And Saul was sleeping in the royal chariot, and the people were camping round about him.
26:6And David responded and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, Who shall enter with me to Saul, into the camp? And Abishai said, I shall enter with you.
26:7And they enter, David and Abishai, among the people at night. And behold, Saul was sleeping a deep sleep in the royal chariot, and his spear was sticking in the ground by his head, and Abner and the people slept round about him.
26:8And Abishai said to David, the lord locked up today your enemy into your hands. And now I shall indeed strike him with the spear into the earth once, and I should not repeat it a second time against him.
26:9And David said to Abishai, you should not utterly destroy him. For who shall bear his hand against the anointed one of the lord, and be acquitted?
26:10And David said, As the lord lives, that if the lord should not smite him, or his day should come and he should die, or by battle should go down and be added to his fathers;
26:11then it is by no means to me from the lord to bear my hand against the anointed one of the lord. And now, take indeed the spear from before his head, and the flask of the water, and we shall go forth.
26:12And David took the spear and the flask of the water from before his head, and they went forth. And there was not one seeing, and there was not one knowing, and there was not one awakening -- all were sleeping, for a stupefaction from the lord fell upon them.
26:13And David passed over to the other side, and stood upon the top of the mountain far off, and a long way between them.
26:14And David called the people, and he spoke to Abner son of Ner, saying, Will you not answer, Abner? And Abner answered and said, Who are you, calling me?
26:15And David said to Abner, Are you not a man? And who is as you in Israel? And why do you not guard your master the king? For one of the people entered to destroy your master the king.
26:16this is not a good thing which you have done. As lives the lord, for you are sons of death, the ones not guarding the king, your master, the anointed one of the lord. And now see where the spear of the king is, and the flask of the water, the things by his head!
26:17And Saul recognized the voice of David, and he said, Is this your voice son David? And David said, My voice my master; your servant, O king.
26:18And he said, Why is this my master pursues after his servant? For in what have I sinned? And what offence was found in me?
26:19And now let my master the king hear indeed the words of his servant! If God stirs you against me, then may your sacrifice smell acceptable. And if the sons of men, then let these be accursed before the lord, for they cast me out today to not be fixed firmly in the inheritance of the lord, saying, Go serve other gods!
26:20And now may my blood not fall upon the ground right opposite the face of the lord, that the king of Israel has come forth to seek one flea, as the long-eared owl pursues prey in the mountains.
26:21And Saul said, I have sinned. Return, son David! for I shall not do evil against you any more, because my life was valued in your eyes; and today I have acted in folly, and I am ignorant very much.
26:22And David responded and said, Behold, the spear of the king. Let indeed one of the servants come through and take it!
26:23And the lord will restore to each his righteousness and his trust; as the lord delivered you today into my hands, and I did not want to bear my hand against the anointed one of the lord.
26:24And behold, as your life was magnified today in this, in my eyes, so may my life be magnified before the lord, and may he shelter me, and may he rescue me from out of all affliction.
26:25And Saul said to David, Being blessed are you, son David, and by performing you shall perform, and in ability you shall be able. And David went forth on his way, and Saul returned to his place.