26:1 And the Ziphites came unto Sha'ul to Giveah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Chachilah, [which is] before Yeshimon?
26:2 Then Sha'ul arose, and went down to midbar Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Yisrael with him, to seek David in midbar Ziph.
26:3 And Sha'ul pitched in the hill of Chachilah, which [is] before Yeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Sha'ul came after him into the wilderness.
26:4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Sha'ul was come in very deed.
26:5 And David arose, and came to the place where Sha'ul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Sha'ul lay, and Avner Ben Ner, the captain of his host: and Sha'ul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.
26:6 Then answered David and said to Achimelekh (אחימלך) the Chitti, and to Avishai Ben Tzeruyah, brother to Yoav, saying, Who will go down with me to Sha'ul to the camp? And Avishai said, I will go down with thee.
26:7 So David and Avishai came to the people by night: and, Hinnei, Sha'ul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Avner and the people lay round about him.
26:8 Then said Avishai to David, Elohim (אלהים) 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.
26:9 And David said to Avishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against YHWH (יהוה)'S anointed, and be guiltless?
26:10 David said furthermore, [As] YHWH (יהוה) liveth, YHWH (יהוה) shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
26:11 YHWH (יהוה) forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against YHWH (יהוה)'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.
26:12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Sha'ul'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 YHWH (יהוה) was fallen upon them.
26:13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space [being] between them:
26:14 And David cried to the people, and to Avner Ben Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Avner? Then Avner answered and said, Who [art] thou [that] criest to the king?
26:15 And David said to Avner, [Art] not thou a [valiant] man? and who [is] like to thee in Yisrael? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy master the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the melekh thy master.
26:16 This thing [is] not good that thou hast done. [As] YHWH (יהוה) liveth, ye [are] worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, YHWH (יהוה)'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear [is], and the cruse of water that [was] at his bolster.
26:17 And Sha'ul knew David's voice, and said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And David said, [It is] my voice, my master, O melekh.
26:18 And he said, Wherefore doth my master thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil [is] in mine hand?
26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my master the melekh hear the words of his eved. If YHWH (יהוה) have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if [they be] the children of men, cursed [be] they before YHWH (יהוה); for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of YHWH (יהוה), saying, Go, serve other gods.
26:20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of YHWH (יהוה): for the melekh of Yisrael is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
26:21 Then said Sha'ul, 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: Hinnei, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
26:22 And David answered and said, Hinnei the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
26:23 YHWH (יהוה) render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for YHWH (יהוה) delivered thee into [my] hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against YHWH (יהוה)'S anointed.
26:24 And, Hinnei, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of YHWH (יהוה), and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
26:25 Then Sha'ul 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 Sha'ul returned to his place.