And the Ziphites{H2130} came{H935}{(H8799)} unto Saul{H7586} to Gibeah{H1390}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Doth not David{H1732} hide{H5641}{(H8693)} himself in the hill{H1389} of Hachilah{H2444}, which is before{H6440} Jeshimon{H3452}?

Then Saul{H7586} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and went down{H3381}{(H8799)} to the wilderness{H4057} of Ziph{H2128}, having three{H7969} thousand{H505} chosen{H977}{(H8803)} men{H376} of Israel{H3478} with him, to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} David{H1732} in the wilderness{H4057} of Ziph{H2128}.

And Saul{H7586} pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} in the hill{H1389} of Hachilah{H2444}, which is before{H6440} Jeshimon{H3452}, by the way{H1870}. But David{H1732} abode{H3427}{(H8802)} in the wilderness{H4057}, and he saw{H7200}{(H8799)} that Saul{H7586} came{H935}{(H8804)} after{H310} him into the wilderness{H4057}.

David{H1732} therefore sent out{H7971}{(H8799)} spies{H7270}{(H8764)}, and understood{H3045}{(H8799)} that Saul{H7586} was come{H935}{(H8804)} in very deed{H3559}{(H8737)}.

And David{H1732} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to the place{H4725} where Saul{H7586} had pitched{H2583}{(H8804)}: and David{H1732} beheld{H7200}{(H8799)} the place{H4725} where Saul{H7586} lay{H7901}{(H8804)}, and Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369}, the captain{H8269} of his host{H6635}: and Saul{H7586} lay{H7901}{(H8802)} in the trench{H4570}, and the people{H5971} pitched{H2583}{(H8802)} round about{H5439} him.

Then answered{H6030}{(H8799)} David{H1732} and said{H559}{(H8799)} to Ahimelech{H288} the Hittite{H2850}, and to Abishai{H52} the son{H1121} of Zeruiah{H6870}, brother{H251} to Joab{H3097}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Who will go down{H3381}{(H8799)} with me to Saul{H7586} to the camp{H4264}? And Abishai{H52} said{H559}{(H8799)}, I will go down{H3381}{(H8799)} with thee.

So David{H1732} and Abishai{H52} came{H935}{(H8799)} to the people{H5971} by night{H3915}: and, behold, Saul{H7586} lay{H7901}{(H8802)} sleeping{H3463} within the trench{H4570}, and his spear{H2595} stuck{H4600}{(H8803)} in the ground{H776} at his bolster{H4763}: but Abner{H74} and the people{H5971} lay{H7901}{(H8802)} round about{H5439} him.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Abishai{H52} to David{H1732}, God{H430} hath delivered{H5462}{(H8765)} thine enemy{H341}{(H8802)} into thine hand{H3027} this day{H3117}: now therefore let me smite{H5221}{(H8686)} him, I pray thee, with the spear{H2595} even to the earth{H776} at once{H6471}{H259}, and I will not smite him the second time{H8138}{(H8799)}.

And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Abishai{H52}, Destroy{H7843}{(H8686)} him not: for who can stretch forth{H7971}{(H8804)} his hand{H3027} against the LORD'S{H3068} anointed{H4899}, and be guiltless{H5352}{(H8738)}?

David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} furthermore, As the LORD{H3068} liveth{H2416}, the LORD{H3068} shall smite{H5062}{(H8799)} him; or his day{H3117} shall come{H935}{(H8799)} to die{H4191}{(H8804)}; or he shall descend{H3381}{(H8799)} into battle{H4421}, and perish{H5595}{(H8738)}.

The LORD{H3068} forbid{H2486} that I should stretch forth{H7971}{(H8800)} mine hand{H3027} against the LORD'S{H3068} anointed{H4899}: but, I pray thee, take{H3947}{(H8798)} thou now the spear{H2595} that is at his bolster{H4763}, and the cruse{H6835} of water{H4325}, and let us go{H3212}{(H8799)}.

So David{H1732} took{H3947}{(H8799)} the spear{H2595} and the cruse{H6835} of water{H4325} from Saul's{H7586} bolster{H7226}; and they gat them away{H3212}{(H8799)}, and no man saw{H7200}{(H8802)} it, nor knew{H3045}{(H8802)} it, neither awaked{H6974}{(H8688)}: for they were all asleep{H3463}; because a deep sleep{H8639} from the LORD{H3068} was fallen{H5307}{(H8804)} upon them.

Then David{H1732} went over{H5674}{(H8799)} to the other side{H5676}, and stood{H5975}{(H8799)} on the top{H7218} of an hill{H2022} afar off{H7350}; a great{H7227} space{H4725} being between them:

And David{H1732} cried{H7121}{(H8799)} to the people{H5971}, and to Abner{H74} the son{H1121} of Ner{H5369}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Answerest{H6030}{(H8799)} thou not, Abner{H74}? Then Abner{H74} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Who art thou that criest{H7121}{(H8804)} to the king{H4428}?

And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Abner{H74}, Art not thou a valiant man{H376}? and who is like to thee in Israel{H3478}? wherefore then hast thou not kept{H8104}{(H8804)} thy lord{H113} the king{H4428}? for there came{H935}{(H8804)} one{H259} of the people{H5971} in to destroy{H7843}{(H8687)} the king{H4428} thy lord{H113}.

This thing{H1697} is not good{H2896} that thou hast done{H6213}{(H8804)}. As the LORD{H3068} liveth{H2416}, ye are worthy{H1121} to die{H4194}, because ye have not kept{H8104}{(H8804)} your master{H113}, the LORD'S{H3068} anointed{H4899}. And now see{H7200}{(H8798)} where the king's{H4428} spear{H2595} is, and the cruse{H6835} of water{H4325} that was at his bolster{H4763}.

And Saul{H7586} knew{H5234}{(H8686)} David's{H1732} voice{H6963}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Is this thy voice{H6963}, my son{H1121} David{H1732}? And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)}, It is my voice{H6963}, my lord{H113}, O king{H4428}.

And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Wherefore doth my lord{H113} thus pursue{H7291}{(H8802)} after{H310} his servant{H5650}? for what have I done{H6213}{(H8804)}? or what evil{H7451} is in mine hand{H3027}?

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord{H113} the king{H4428} hear{H8085}{(H8799)} the words{H1697} of his servant{H5650}. If the LORD{H3068} have stirred thee up{H5496}{(H8689)} against me, let him accept{H7306}{(H8686)} an offering{H4503}: but if they be the children{H1121} of men{H120}, cursed{H779}{(H8803)} be they before{H6440} the LORD{H3068}; for they have driven{H1644}{(H8765)} me out this day{H3117} from abiding{H5596}{(H8692)} in the inheritance{H5159} of the LORD{H3068}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}, serve{H5647}{(H8798)} other{H312} gods{H430}.

Now therefore, let not my blood{H1818} fall{H5307}{(H8799)} to the earth{H776} before the face{H6440} of the LORD{H3068}: for the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} is come out{H3318}{(H8804)} to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} a{H259} flea{H6550}, as when one doth hunt{H7291}{(H8799)} a partridge{H7124} in the mountains{H2022}.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Saul{H7586}, I have sinned{H2398}{(H8804)}: return{H7725}{(H8798)}, my son{H1121} David{H1732}: for I will no more do thee harm{H7489}{(H8686)}, because my soul{H5315} was precious{H3365}{(H8804)} in thine eyes{H5869} this day{H3117}: behold, I have played the fool{H5528}{(H8689)}, and have erred{H7686}{(H8799)} exceedingly{H7235}{(H8687)}{H3966}.

And David{H1732} answered{H6030}{(H8799)} and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold the king's{H4428} spear{H2595}! and let one{H259} of the young men{H5288} come over{H5674}{(H8799)} and fetch{H3947}{(H8799)} it.

The LORD{H3068} render{H7725}{(H8686)} to every man{H376} his righteousness{H6666} and his faithfulness{H530}: for the LORD{H3068} delivered{H5414}{(H8804)} thee into my hand{H3027} to day{H3117}, but I would{H14}{(H8804)} not stretch forth{H7971}{(H8800)} mine hand{H3027} against the LORD'S{H3068} anointed{H4899}.

And, behold, as thy life{H5315} was much set by{H1431}{(H8804)} this day{H3117} in mine eyes{H5869}, so let my life{H5315} be much set by{H1431}{(H8799)} in the eyes{H5869} of the LORD{H3068}, and let him deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} me out of all tribulation{H6869}.

Then Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8799)} to David{H1732}, Blessed{H1288}{(H8803)} be thou, my son{H1121} David{H1732}: thou shalt both do{H6213}{(H8799)} great{H6213}{(H8800)} things, and also shalt still{H3201}{(H8800)} prevail{H3201}{(H8799)}. So David{H1732} went{H3212}{(H8799)} on his way{H1870}, and Saul{H7586} returned{H7725}{(H8804)} to his place{H4725}.