1 Samuel 26

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

1The people of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said, 'Isn't David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which faces the wasteland?'

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.

2So Saul got up and went down to the Desert of Ziph with 3,000 of Israel's best men to search for David there.

3And 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.

3Saul set up camp along the road on the hill of Hachilah near the wasteland. David was staying in the desert, and he realized that Saul had followed him there.

4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.

4David sent out spies and confirmed for certain that Saul had arrived.

5And 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.

5Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were sleeping. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the army camped all around 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 thee.

6David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, 'Who will go down into the camp with me to see Saul?' Abishai said, 'I will go with you.'

7So 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.

7So David and Abishai went into the camp at night. There lay Saul, sleeping inside the circle of wagons with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were sleeping all around him.

8Then 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.

8Abishai said to David, 'Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Now let me pin him to the ground with one spear thrust; I won't need to strike him twice.'

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

9But David said to Abishai, 'Don't kill him! Who can attack the LORD’s anointed king and remain innocent?'

10And 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.

10David added, 'As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him, or his time to die will come naturally, or he will die in battle.'

11Jehovah 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.

11'The LORD forbid that I should raise my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But now, take the spear that is near his head and the jug of water, and let's go.'

12So 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.

12So David took the spear and the water jug from near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw them, no one knew it, and no one woke up. They all stayed asleep because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.

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

13Then David went over to the other side and stood on top of a hill in the distance. There was a wide space between them.

14and 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?

14David shouted to the army and to Abner son of Ner, 'Don't you have an answer, Abner?' Abner replied, 'Who are you, calling out to the king?'

15And 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.

15David said to Abner, 'Aren't you a great man? Who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came in to kill the king, your lord.

16This 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.

16What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men deserve to die because you didn't guard your master, the LORD’s anointed. Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the water jug that were near his head?'

17And 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.

17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' David replied, 'Yes, it is my voice, my lord the king.'

18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?

18Then he asked, 'Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What crime am I guilty of?'

19Now 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.

19'Now please, let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has turned you against me, let him accept an offering. But if people have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have driven me out today from my share in the LORD’s land, basically telling me, "Go, serve other gods."'

20Now 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.

20'Now, don't let my blood be spilled on the ground away from the LORD’s presence. The king of Israel has come out to look for a single flea, like someone hunting a bird in the mountains.'

21Then 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.

21Then Saul said, 'I have sinned. Come back, my son David. Because you valued my life today, I will never try to hurt you again. I have been a fool and have made a huge mistake.'

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

22David answered, 'Here is the king's spear. Let one of your young men come over and get it.'

23And 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.

23'The LORD rewards every man for his right living and his loyalty. The LORD handed you over to me today, but I would not lift my hand against the LORD’s anointed.'

24And, 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.

24'Just as I valued your life today, may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.'

25Then 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.

25Then Saul said to David, 'May you be blessed, my son David. You will do great things and surely succeed.' So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.