1 Samuel 26

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

The Ziphites came to Saul to Gibeah, saying, "Doesn't David hide himself on the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon?"

2 Then 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.

Then 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.

3 And Saul encamped 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.

Saul camped on the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon, near the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

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

David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come.

5 And 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 in the trench, and the people encamped around him.

David arose, and came to the place where Saul had camped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were camped around him.

6 Then 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.

Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hethite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you."

7 So 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 head: but Abner and the people lay about him.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, look, 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 around him.

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

Then Abishai said to David, "God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time."

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

David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against YHWH's anointed, and be guiltless?"

10 David 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.

David said, "As YHWH lives, YHWH will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.

11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

YHWH forbid that I should put forth my hand against YHWH's anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go."

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from beside Saul’s head; and they departed, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awoke: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head; and they went away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from YHWH was fallen on them.

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

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

14 And 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?

And David called to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Do you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you that calls?"

15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like thee in Israel? why then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came in one of the people to destroy the king thy lord.

David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord, the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.

16 This 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 head.

This thing isn't good that you have done. As YHWH lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, YHWH's anointed. Now look, where is the king's spear, and where is the jar of water that was by his head?"

17 And 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.

Saul knew David's voice, and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king."

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

He said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand?

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

Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that God has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is from human beings, they are cursed before YHWH; for they have driven me out this day that I shouldn't cling to YHWH's inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

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

Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of YHWH; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thy eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly."

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

And David answered and said, "Look, the king's spear. Now let one of the young men come over and get it.

23 The 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 my hand against the LORD’S anointed.

YHWH will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; because YHWH delivered you into my hand today, and I wouldn't put forth my hand against YHWH's anointed.

24 And, behold, as thy life was precious this day in my eyes, so let my life be precious in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

Look, as your life was respected this day in my eyes, so let my life be respected in the eyes of YHWH, and let him deliver me out of all oppression."

25 Then 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.

Then Saul said to David, "You are blessed, my son David. You shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.