1 Samuel 26

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

1Some men from Ziph came to Saul at Gibeah. They said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon."

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 went down to the wilderness of Ziph. He took three thousand of the best soldiers in Israel. He went there to look for David.

3And 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.

3Saul set up camp beside the road on the hill of Hachilah, across from Jeshimon. But David was staying out in the wild land. He saw that Saul had followed him there.

4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

4So David sent out men to look around quietly. They came back and said Saul had really come.

5And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: 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 round about him.

5Then David went to the place where Saul was camped. He saw where Saul was lying down. Abner son of Ner was there too. Abner was the leader of Saul's army. Saul slept in the middle of the camp. His soldiers slept in a circle 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 spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai. Abishai's mother was Zeruiah, and his brother was Joab. David asked, "Who will go down with me into Saul's camp?" Abishai said, "I will go with you."

7So 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 round about him.

7So David and Abishai came to the camp at night. Saul was lying there fast asleep in the middle of the camp. His spear was stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the soldiers were sleeping all around him.

NoteThe KJV says the spear was "at his bolster." A bolster is a long pillow. It means the spear was stuck in the ground right by Saul's head.

8Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine 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.

8Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me push the spear through him into the ground. One try is all I will need."

9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?

9But David said, "No, do not kill him. God chose Saul to be king. Anyone who hurts him would be doing wrong."

10David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

10David went on, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD will deal with Saul. Maybe his time to die will come. Maybe he will go to battle and be killed there.

11The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine 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.

11But I will never lift my hand against the man God chose as king. Just take the spear by his head and the water jug. Then let us go."

12So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

12So David took the spear and the water jug from beside Saul's head. Then they left. Nobody saw them. Nobody knew. Nobody even woke up. They all stayed asleep, because God had put a deep sleep on them.

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

13Then David crossed over to the other side. He stood on top of a hill far away. A wide space lay between him and the camp.

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 soldiers and to Abner son of Ner. He called, "Abner, are you not going to answer me?" Abner shouted back, "Who are you, shouting at 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 thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

15David said to Abner, "You are a brave man, are you not? Nobody in Israel is like you. So why did you not guard the king, your master? Someone came into the camp to kill him.

16This 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.

16What you did was not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you all should die for this. You did not guard your master, the man God chose as king. Now look for the king's spear and the water jug that were by 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 knew David's voice. He said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David said, "It is my voice, my lord and king."

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

18David said, "Why are you chasing me, my king? I serve you. What have I done? What wrong have I done?

19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be 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.

19Please listen to me, my king. If the LORD has turned you against me, then let a gift be given to him. But if people talked you into it, may they be cursed. They have chased me away from my home in the land the LORD gave us. It is as if they said, "Go away and serve other gods."

20Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

20Do not let my blood spill on the ground far from the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to hunt one little flea. It is like hunting a small bird in the mountains."

21Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul 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, David my son. I will never hurt you again. Today you treated my life as something precious. I have acted like a fool. I was very, very wrong."

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

22David answered, "Here is the king's spear. Send one of your young men over to get it.

23The 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 mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.

23May the LORD pay back every person for doing right and staying true. Today the LORD put you in my power. But I would not lift my hand against the man he chose as king.

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 the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

24Today I treated your life as precious. So may the LORD treat my life as precious too. And may he save me out of every trouble."

25Then 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.

25Then Saul said, "May you be blessed, David my son. You will do great things. You will win." Then David went on his way, and Saul went back home.

NoteThe KJV says David will "still prevail." Prevail means to win or to succeed.