1 T hen the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, east of Jeshimon?”

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 S o Saul got ready and went down to the desert of Ziph. He had 3, 000 chosen men of Israel with him, to look for David in the desert of Ziph.

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 S aul stayed on the hill of Hachilah, beside the road east of Jeshimon. And David was staying in the desert. When he saw that Saul came after him in the desert,

And Saul encampeth in the height of Hachilah, which 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 D avid sent out spies and learned that Saul was coming for sure.

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

5 T hen David got ready and came to the place where Saul was staying. He saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army. Saul was lying in the center of the tents, and the people were sleeping around him.

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 T hen David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me to the tents of Saul?” Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”

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 S o David and Abishai came to the people during the night. Saul lay sleeping in the center of the tents, with his spear in the ground at his head. Abner and the people were lying around him.

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 A bishai said to David, “Today God has given the one who hates you into your hand. Now let me nail him to the earth with the spear, hitting him just once. I will not hit him a second time.”

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 to him.'

9 B ut David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him. For who can put his hand out against the Lord’s chosen one and not be guilty?”

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

10 D avid said, “As the Lord lives, He will destroy him. Or his day will come to die. Or he will be killed in battle.

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 M ay the Lord keep me from putting out my hand against the Lord’s chosen one. But take the spear that is at his head and the bottle of water, and let us go.”

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 at his pillow, and the cruse of water, and we go away.'

12 S o David took the spear and the bottle of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away. But no one saw it, or knew it, and no one woke, for they were all sleeping. A deep sleep from the Lord had come upon them.

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 Jehovah hath fallen upon them.

13 T hen David crossed over to the other side and stood far away on top of the mountain, with much land between them.

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

14 D avid called to the army and to Ner’s son Abner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

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

15 D avid said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why have you not watched over your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord.

And David saith unto Abner, `Art not thou a man? and who 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 T his thing you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you must die for sure. Because you did not watch over your lord, the Lord’s chosen one. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the bottle of water that was beside his head.”

Not good is this thing which thou hast done; Jehovah liveth, but ye 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, and the cruse of water which at his bolster.'

17 S aul knew David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.

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 W hy is my lord coming after his servant? What have I done? What am I guilty of?

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

19 N ow I beg you, let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has made you come against me, let Him receive a gift. But if men have done this, may bad come to them before the Lord. For they have driven me out this day, that I should have no share of what the Lord has given. They say, ‘Go, worship other gods.’

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 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 S o do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to look for one little bug, just as one looks for a partridge in the mountains.”

`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 pursueth the partridge in mountains.'

21 T hen Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not hurt you again. Because my life was of great worth in your eyes this day. See, I have played the fool, and have made a big mistake.”

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 D avid answered, “See the spear of the king! Let one of the young men come over and take it.

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

23 T he Lord will pay each man for being right and good and faithful. For the Lord gave you into my hand today. But I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s chosen one.

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

24 N ow see, as your life was of great worth in my eyes today, so may my life be of great worth in the eyes of the Lord. May He save me from all trouble.”

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 T hen Saul said to David, “May good come to you, my son David. You will do many things and do them well.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

And Saul saith unto David, `Blessed 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.