09_1SA_26_01 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah , saying , Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah , [ which Is ] before Jeshimon ?
09_1SA_26_02 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 .
09_1SA_26_03 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 .
09_1SA_26_04 David therefore sent out spies , And understood that Saul was come in very deed .
09_1SA_26_05 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 .
09_1SA_26_06 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 .
09_1SA_26_07 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 .
09_1SA_26_08 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 .
09_1SA_26_09 And David said to Abishai , destroy him not : for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed , And be guiltless ?
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_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 :
09_1SA_26_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 ?
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 ?
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_22 And David answered And said , behold the king's spear ! And let one of the young men come over And fetch it .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .
09_1SA_26_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 .