1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Isn't David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which overlooks the wilderness?"

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

2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, taking three thousand select men of Israel with him to search for 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 Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which faces the wilderness along the road, while David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had come into the wilderness after him,

And 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.

4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had definitely come.

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

5 Then David got up and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army, were lying down. Saul was lying inside the camp with the troops encamped around him.

And 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.

6 David then answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you."

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.

7 So David and Abishai came to the troops by night, and there was Saul lying asleep in the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the troops were lying all around him.

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 bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won't need to strike him twice."

Then 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.

9 But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?"

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

10 David also said, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.

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.

11 The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. Now take the spear by his head and the jar of water, and let us go.

The 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.

12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from near Saul's head, and they departed. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

So 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.

13 David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill at a distance, with a wide space between them.

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

14 Then David called out to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, saying, "Won't you answer, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you calling to the king?"

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?

15 David said to Abner, "Aren't you a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king.

And 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.

16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you deserve to die because you did not guard your lord, the LORD's anointed. Now, look around! Where are the king's spear and the jar of water that were near his head?"

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 bolster.

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

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.

18 And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong is in my hand?

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

19 Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD, because they have driven me out today to prevent me from having a share in the LORD's inheritance, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

Now 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.

20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. For the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.

Now 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.

21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again, because my life was precious in your sight today. Look, I have acted foolishly and have made a great mistake."

Then 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.

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

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

23 The LORD repays everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness, for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not lay my hand on the LORD's anointed.

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 mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

24 And just as your life was valuable in my sight today, may my life be valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me from all distress.

And, 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.

25 Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David. You will do great things and surely prevail." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

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.