1 The|strong="H0559" people|strong="H3808" of|strong="H6440" Ziph went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" see|strong="H0935" Saul|strong="H7586" at|strong="H0413" Gibeah|strong="H1390" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “David|strong="H1732" is|strong="H6440" hiding|strong="H5641" on|strong="H5921" Hakilah Hill|strong="H1389", across|strong="H5921" from|strong="H0935" Jeshimon|strong="H3452".”
2 Saul|strong="H7586" gathered 3000 of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" best soldiers|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0413" Israel|strong="H3478" and|strong="H6965" went|strong="H3381" down|strong="H3381" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" desert|strong="H4057" of|strong="H0376" Ziph|strong="H2128" to|strong="H0413" search|strong="H1245" for|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732" there.
3 Saul|strong="H7586" set|strong="H0935" up|strong="H7200" his|strong="H5921" camp|strong="H2583" by|strong="H5921" the|strong="H6440" road|strong="H1870" at|strong="H2583" Hakilah Hill|strong="H1389", across|strong="H5921" from|strong="H0935" Jeshimon|strong="H3452".
4 So|strong="H7971" David|strong="H1732" sent|strong="H7971" out|strong="H7971" spies|strong="H7270" to|strong="H0413" know|strong="H3045" for|strong="H3588" certain|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" Saul|strong="H7586" had|strong="H1732" come|strong="H0935" after|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413" again|strong="H7971".
5 Then|strong="H6965" David|strong="H1732" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" where|strong="H0834" Saul|strong="H7586" had|strong="H0834" set|strong="H6965" up|strong="H6965" his|strong="H1732" camp|strong="H2583". David|strong="H1732" saw|strong="H7200" where|strong="H0834" Saul|strong="H7586" and|strong="H1121" Abner|strong="H0074" were|strong="H0834" sleeping. (Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369" was|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" commander|strong="H8269" of|strong="H1121" Saul’s|strong="H7586" army|strong="H6635".) Saul|strong="H7586" was|strong="H0834" sleeping in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" center of|strong="H1121" a|strong="H7200" circle|strong="H4570" of|strong="H1121" men|strong="H1121" that|strong="H0834" surrounded|strong="H5439" him|strong="H0413".
6 David|strong="H1732" talked to|strong="H0413" Ahimelech|strong="H0288" the|strong="H0559" Hittite|strong="H2850" and|strong="H1121" Abishai|strong="H0052" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zeruiah|strong="H6870". (Abishai|strong="H0052" was|strong="H1732" Joab’s|strong="H3097" brother|strong="H0251".) He|strong="H1732" asked|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413", “Who|strong="H4310" would|strong="H4310" like|strong="H5973" to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H3381" down|strong="H3381" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" camp|strong="H4264" with|strong="H5973" me|strong="H0413" after|strong="H0413" Saul|strong="H7586"?”
7 When|strong="H0935" night|strong="H3915" came|strong="H0935", David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H0935" Abishai|strong="H0052" went|strong="H0935" into|strong="H0413" Saul’s|strong="H7586" camp|strong="H4570". Saul|strong="H7586" was|strong="H0776" asleep|strong="H3463" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0413" middle of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0413" circle|strong="H4570" of|strong="H0776" men|strong="H5971". His|strong="H1732" spear|strong="H2595" was|strong="H0776" stuck|strong="H4600" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0413" ground|strong="H0776" near|strong="H4763" his|strong="H1732" head|strong="H4763". Abner|strong="H0074" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0413" other soldiers|strong="H5971" were|strong="H0776" asleep|strong="H3463" around|strong="H5439" Saul|strong="H7586".
8 Abishai|strong="H0052" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732", “Today|strong="H3117" God|strong="H0430" has|strong="H0430" given|strong="H5462" your|strong="H4994" enemy|strong="H0341" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3117". Let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" pin|strong="H5221" Saul|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" ground|strong="H0776" with|strong="H0413" his|strong="H1732" spear|strong="H2595". I’ll only|strong="H0259" do|strong="H8138" it|strong="H5221" once|strong="H0259"!”
9 But|strong="H3588" David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Abishai|strong="H0052", “Don’t|strong="H0408" kill|strong="H7843" Saul|strong="H0559"! Anyone|strong="H3588" who|strong="H4310" hurts the|strong="H0559" LORD’S|strong="H3068" chosen|strong="H4899" king must be|strong="H0408" punished.
10 As|strong="H0935" surely|strong="H3588" as|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" lives|strong="H2416", the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" himself|strong="H3117" will|strong="H3068" punish Saul|strong="H0559". Maybe Saul|strong="H0559" will|strong="H3068" die|strong="H4191" naturally or|strong="H0176" maybe he|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H4191" killed|strong="H4191" in|strong="H0935" battle|strong="H4421".
11 But|strong="H3947" I|strong="H0834" pray|strong="H4994" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" never lets|strong="H7971" me|strong="H4994" hurt the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" chosen|strong="H3947" king. Now|strong="H6258" pick|strong="H3947" up|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" spear|strong="H2595" and|strong="H3068" water|strong="H4325" jug|strong="H6835" by|strong="H3027" Saul’s head|strong="H4763" and|strong="H3068" let’s|strong="H4994" go|strong="H7971".”
12 So|strong="H3947" David|strong="H1732" took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H3605" spear|strong="H2595" and|strong="H3068" water|strong="H4325" jug|strong="H6835" that|strong="H3588" were|strong="H4325" near|strong="H5921" Saul’s|strong="H7586" head|strong="H5307", and|strong="H3068" then|strong="H3947" David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H3068" Abishai left Saul’s|strong="H7586" camp. No|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0369" knew|strong="H3045" what|strong="H5921" had|strong="H3068" happened. No|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0369" saw|strong="H7200" it|strong="H5921". No|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0369" even|strong="H3588" woke up|strong="H7200". Saul|strong="H7586" and|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3605" soldiers slept|strong="H3462" because|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" put|strong="H3947" them|strong="H0853" into|strong="H5921" a|strong="H3947" deep|strong="H8639" sleep|strong="H3462".
13 David|strong="H1732" crossed|strong="H5674" over|strong="H5921" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H5921" other|strong="H5676" side|strong="H5676" of|strong="H2022" the|strong="H5921" valley. He|strong="H1732" stood|strong="H5975" on|strong="H5921" top|strong="H7218" of|strong="H2022" the|strong="H5921" mountain|strong="H2022" across|strong="H5676" the|strong="H5921" valley from|strong="H5921" Saul’s|strong="H7218" camp. David|strong="H1732" and|strong="H7218" Saul’s|strong="H7218" camp were|strong="H2022" far|strong="H7350" apart.
14 David|strong="H1732" shouted|strong="H7121" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" army|strong="H5971" and|strong="H1121" to|strong="H0413" Abner|strong="H0074" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Ner|strong="H5369", “Answer|strong="H6030" me|strong="H0413", Abner|strong="H0074"!”
15 David|strong="H1732" said|strong="H0559", “You|strong="H0859" are|strong="H3478" an|strong="H0935" important man|strong="H0376", aren’t you|strong="H0859"? You|strong="H0859" are|strong="H3478" better than|strong="H3808" any|strong="H0376" other|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0376" in|strong="H0935" Israel|strong="H3478". Is|strong="H4310" that|strong="H3588" right? So|strong="H3808" why|strong="H4100" didn’t|strong="H3808" you|strong="H0859" guard|strong="H8104" your|strong="H8104" master|strong="H0113", the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428"? An|strong="H0935" ordinary|strong="H0376" man|strong="H0376" came|strong="H0935" into|strong="H0413" your|strong="H8104" camp to|strong="H0413" kill|strong="H7843" your|strong="H8104" master|strong="H0113", the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428".
16 You|strong="H0859" made|strong="H6213" a|strong="H3588" big mistake. As|strong="H0834" surely|strong="H3588" as|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" is|strong="H0834" alive|strong="H2416", you|strong="H0859" and|strong="H1121" your|strong="H3068" men|strong="H1121" should|strong="H3068" die|strong="H4194", because|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" didn’t|strong="H3808" protect|strong="H8104" your|strong="H3068" master|strong="H0113", the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" chosen|strong="H4899" king|strong="H4428". Look|strong="H7200" for|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" spear|strong="H2595" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" water|strong="H4325" jug|strong="H6835" that|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" near|strong="H5921" Saul’s head|strong="H4763". Where|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834"?”
17 Saul|strong="H7586" knew David’s|strong="H1732" voice|strong="H6963" and|strong="H1121" said|strong="H0559", “Is|strong="H2088" that|strong="H2088" your|strong="H0559" voice|strong="H6963", David|strong="H1732" my|strong="H1732" son|strong="H1121"?”
18 Sir|strong="H0113", why|strong="H4100" are|strong="H4100" you|strong="H3588" chasing|strong="H0310" me|strong="H0310"? What|strong="H4100" wrong|strong="H7451" have|strong="H5650" I|strong="H3588" done|strong="H6213"? What|strong="H4100" am I|strong="H3588" guilty|strong="H0310" of|strong="H3027"?
19 My|strong="H8085" lord|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428", listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0559" me|strong="H4994". If|strong="H0518" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" caused|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3588" to|strong="H0559" be|strong="H1121" angry with|strong="H3068" me|strong="H4994", let|strong="H4994" him|strong="H0853" accept|strong="H8085" an|strong="H3588" offering|strong="H4503". But|strong="H3588" if|strong="H0518" men|strong="H0120" caused|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3588" to|strong="H0559" be|strong="H1121" angry with|strong="H3068" me|strong="H4994", I|strong="H3588" ask|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" to|strong="H0559" curse|strong="H0779" them|strong="H1992" because|strong="H3588" they|strong="H1992" forced me|strong="H4994" to|strong="H0559" leave the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H5159" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" gave|strong="H0559" me|strong="H4994" and|strong="H1121" told|strong="H0559" me|strong="H4994" to|strong="H0559" go|strong="H4994" serve|strong="H5647" other|strong="H0312" gods|strong="H0430".
20 Now|strong="H6258" don’t|strong="H0408" make|strong="H3588" me|strong="H6440" die|strong="H5307" far away|strong="H5307" from|strong="H3318" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" presence|strong="H6440". The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478" has|strong="H3068" come|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" looking|strong="H1245" for|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" flea|strong="H6550". You|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" like|strong="H0834" a|strong="H3588" man|strong="H0259" hunting partridges in|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" mountains|strong="H2022".”
21 Then|strong="H2009" Saul|strong="H7586" said|strong="H0559", “David|strong="H1732", my|strong="H7725" son|strong="H1121"! I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" sinned|strong="H2398". Come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725". Today|strong="H3117" you|strong="H0834" showed me|strong="H5315" that|strong="H0834" my|strong="H7725" life|strong="H5315" is|strong="H0834" important to|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0834", so|strong="H3808" I|strong="H0834" won’t|strong="H3808" try to|strong="H0559" hurt you|strong="H0834". I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" acted|strong="H5528" foolishly|strong="H5528". I|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" made|strong="H7725" a|strong="H3588" big mistake|strong="H7686".”
22 David|strong="H1732" answered|strong="H0559", “Here|strong="H2009" is|strong="H2009" the|strong="H0559" king’s|strong="H4428" spear|strong="H2595". Let one|strong="H0259" of|strong="H4428" your|strong="H3947" young|strong="H5288" men|strong="H5288" come here|strong="H2009" and|strong="H4428" get|strong="H3947" it|strong="H3947".
23 The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" pays|strong="H7725" every|strong="H0376" man|strong="H0376" for|strong="H3027" what|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" does|strong="H3808"—he|strong="H0834" rewards him|strong="H5414" if|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" does|strong="H3808" right|strong="H6666", and|strong="H3068" he|strong="H0834" punishes him|strong="H5414" if|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" does|strong="H3808" wrong. The|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" gave|strong="H5414" you|strong="H0834" to|strong="H7725" me|strong="H5414" today|strong="H3117", but|strong="H3808" I|strong="H0834" wouldn’t harm|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0853" LORD’S|strong="H3068" chosen|strong="H4899" king.
24 Today|strong="H3117" I|strong="H0834" showed you|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" your|strong="H3068" life|strong="H5315" is|strong="H0834" important to|strong="H3068" me|strong="H5315". In|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" same|strong="H2088" way|strong="H2088" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" show that|strong="H0834" my|strong="H3605" life|strong="H5315" is|strong="H0834" important to|strong="H3068" him|strong="H3605". He|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" save|strong="H5315" me|strong="H5315" from|strong="H5315" every|strong="H3605" trouble|strong="H6869".”
25 Then|strong="H0859" Saul|strong="H7586" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" David|strong="H1732", “God|strong="H0559" bless|strong="H1288" you|strong="H0859", David|strong="H1732" my|strong="H7725" son|strong="H1121". You|strong="H0859" will|strong="H1571" do|strong="H6213" great things and|strong="H1121" you|strong="H0859" will|strong="H1571" win.”