1 And the Ziphites2130 came935 unto413 Saul7586 to Gibeah,1390 saying,559 Doth not3808 David1732 hide himself5641 in the hill1389 of Hachilah,2444 which is before5921 6440 Jeshimon?3452

2 Then Saul7586 arose,6965 and went down3381 to413 the wilderness4057 of Ziph,2128 having three7969 thousand505 chosen977 men376 of Israel3478 with854 him, to seek1245 853 David1732 in the wilderness4057 of Ziph.2128

3 And Saul7586 pitched2583 in the hill1389 of Hachilah,2444 which834 is before5921 6440 Jeshimon,3452 by5921 the way.1870 But David1732 abode3427 in the wilderness,4057 and he saw7200 that3588 Saul7586 came935 after310 him into the wilderness.4057

4 David1732 therefore sent out7971 spies,7270 and understood3045 that3588 Saul7586 was come in935 413 very deed.3559

5 And David1732 arose,6965 and came935 to413 the place4725 where834 8033 Saul7586 had pitched:2583 and David1732 beheld7200 853 the place4725 where834 8033 Saul7586 lay,7901 and Abner74 the son1121 of Ner,5369 the captain8269 of his host:6635 and Saul7586 lay7901 in the trench,4570 and the people5971 pitched2583 round about5439 him.

6 Then answered6030 David1732 and said559 to413 Ahimelech288 the Hittite,2850 and to413 Abishai52 the son1121 of Zeruiah,6870 brother251 to Joab,3097 saying,559 Who4310 will go down3381 with854 me to413 Saul7586 to413 the camp?4264 And Abishai52 said,559 I589 will go down3381 with5973 thee.

7 So David1732 and Abishai52 came935 to413 the people5971 by night:3915 and, behold,2009 Saul7586 lay7901 sleeping3463 within the trench,4570 and his spear2595 stuck4600 in the ground776 at his bolster:4763 but Abner74 and the people5971 lay7901 round about5439 him.

8 Then said559 Abishai52 to413 David,1732 God430 hath delivered5462 853 thine enemy341 into thine hand3027 this day:3117 now6258 therefore let me smite5221 him, I pray thee,4994 with the spear2595 even to the earth776 at once,259 6471 and I will not3808 smite him the second time.8138

9 And David1732 said559 to413 Abishai,52 Destroy7843 him not:408 for3588 who4310 can stretch forth7971 his hand3027 against the LORD's3068 anointed,4899 and be guiltless?5352

10 David1732 said559 furthermore,3588 518 As the LORD3068 liveth,2416 the LORD3068 shall smite5062 him; or176 his day3117 shall come935 to die;4191 or176 he shall descend3381 into battle,4421 and perish.5595

11 The LORD4480 3068 forbid2486 that I should stretch forth4480 7971 mine hand3027 against the LORD's3068 anointed:4899 but, I pray thee,4994 take3947 thou now6258 853 the spear2595 that834 is at his bolster,4763 and the cruse6835 of water,4325 and let us go.1980

12 So David1732 took3947 853 the spear2595 and the cruse6835 of water4325 from Saul's7586 bolster;4763 and they got them away,1980 and no369 man saw7200 it, nor369 knew3045 it, neither369 awaked:6974 for3588 they were all3605 asleep;3463 because3588 a deep sleep8639 from the LORD3068 was fallen5307 upon5921 them.

13 Then David1732 went over5674 to the other side,5676 and stood5975 on5921 the top7218 of a hill2022 afar off;4480 7350 a great7227 space4725 being between996 them:

14 And David1732 cried7121 to413 the people,5971 and to413 Abner74 the son1121 of Ner,5369 saying,559 Answerest6030 thou not,3808 Abner?74 Then Abner74 answered6030 and said,559 Who4310 art thou859 that criest7121 to413 the king?4428

15 And David1732 said559 to413 Abner,74 Art not3808 thou859 a valiant man?376 and who4310 is like to thee3644 in Israel?3478 wherefore4100 then hast thou not3808 kept8104 413 thy lord113 the king?4428 for3588 there came935 one259 of the people5971 in to destroy7843 853 the king4428 thy lord.113

16 This2088 thing1697 is not3808 good2896 that834 thou hast done.6213 As the LORD3068 liveth,2416 ye859 are worthy1121 to die,4194 because834 ye have not3808 kept8104 5921 your master,113 the LORD's3068 anointed.4899 And now6258 see7200 where335 the king's4428 spear2595 is, and the cruse6835 of water4325 that834 was at his bolster.4763

17 And Saul7586 knew5234 853 David's1732 voice,6963 and said,559 Is this2088 thy voice,6963 my son1121 David?1732 And David1732 said,559 It is my voice,6963 my lord,113 O king.4428

18 And he said,559 Wherefore4100 doth my lord113 thus2088 pursue7291 after310 his servant?5650 for3588 what4100 have I done?6213 or what4100 evil7451 is in mine hand?3027

19 Now6258 therefore, I pray thee,4994 let my lord113 the king4428 hear8085 853 the words1697 of his servant.5650 If518 the LORD3068 have stirred thee up5496 against me, let him accept7306 an offering:4503 but if518 they be the children1121 of men,120 cursed779 be they1992 before6440 the LORD;3068 for3588 they have driven me out1644 this day3117 from abiding4480 5596 in the inheritance5159 of the LORD,3068 saying,559 Go,1980 serve5647 other312 gods.430

20 Now6258 therefore, let not408 my blood1818 fall5307 to the earth776 before4480 5048 the face6440 of the LORD:3068 for3588 the king4428 of Israel3478 is come out3318 to seek1245 853 a flea,6550 as when834 one259 doth hunt7291 a partridge7124 in the mountains.2022

21 Then said559 Saul,7586 I have sinned:2398 return,7725 my son1121 David:1732 for3588 I will no3808 more5750 do thee harm,7489 because8478 834 my soul5315 was precious3365 in thine eyes5869 this2088 day:3117 behold,2009 I have played the fool,5528 and have erred7686 exceedingly.7235 3966

22 And David1732 answered6030 and said,559 Behold2009 the king's4428 spear!2595 and let one259 of the young men4480 5288 come over5674 and fetch3947 it.

23 The LORD3068 render7725 to every man376 853 his righteousness6666 and his faithfulness:530 for834 the LORD3068 delivered5414 thee into my hand3027 today,3117 but I would14 not3808 stretch forth7971 mine hand3027 against the LORD's3068 anointed.4899

24 And, behold,2009 as834 thy life5315 was much set1431 by this2088 day3117 in mine eyes,5869 so3651 let my life5315 be much set1431 by in the eyes5869 of the LORD,3068 and let him deliver5337 me out of all4480 3605 tribulation.6869

25 Then Saul7586 said559 to413 David,1732 Blessed1288 be thou,859 my son1121 David:1732 thou shalt both1571 do great6213 6213 things, and also1571 shalt still prevail.3201 3201 So David1732 went1980 on his way,1870 and Saul7586 returned7725 to his place.4725