الإصحَاحُ
السَّادِسُ وَالْعِشْرُونَ

 

Chapter
26

1
And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself
in the hill of Hachilah, 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.

3
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 therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5
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
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 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
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
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 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 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 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
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
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
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
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
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 said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what
have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

19
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 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 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
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 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, 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 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.