1Samuel:26

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* And the Ziphites come out of the dry country to Saul to the hill , saying , Behold , David hides himself with us in the hill Echela , opposite Jessemon . * And Saul arose , and went down to the wilderness of Ziph , and with him went three thousand men chosen out of Israel , to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph . * And Saul encamped in the hill of Echela in front of Jessemon , by the way , and David dwelt in the wilderness : and David saw that Saul (note :)Gr . comes (:note ) came after him into the wilderness . * And David sent spies , and ascertained that Saul was come prepared out of Keila . * And David arose secretly , and goes into the place where Saul was sleeping , and there was Abenner the son of Ner , the captain of his host : and Saul was sleeping in a chariot , and the people had encamped along round about him . * And David answered and spoke to Abimelech the Chettite , and to Abessa the son Saruia the brother of Joab , saying , Who will go in with me to Saul into the camp ? And Abessa said , I will go in with thee . * So David and Abessa go in among the people by night : and behold , Saul was fast asleep in the chariot , and his spear was stuck in the ground near his head , and Abenner and his people slept round about him . * And Abessa said to David , The Lord has this day shut up thine enemy into thine hands , and now I will smite him to the earth with the spear to the ground once for all , and I will not (note :)Gr . double the stroke to him (:note ) smite him again . * And David said to Abessa , Do not lay him low , for who shall lift up his hand against the anointed of the Lord , and be guiltless ? * And David said , As the Lord lives , if the Lord smite him not , or his day come and he die , or he go down to battle and be added to his fathers , do not so . * The Lord forbid it me that I should lift up my hand against the anointed of the Lord : and now take , I pray thee , the spear from his bolster , and the pitcher of water , and let us return (note :)kay eautouv ; q . d . ehez nous (:note ) home . * So David took the spear , and the pitcher of water from his bolster , and they went home : and there was no one that saw , and no one that knew , and there was no one that awoke , all being asleep , for a stupor from the Lord had fallen upon them . * So David went over to the other side , and stood on the top of a hill afar off , and there was a good distance between them . * And David called to the people , and spoke to Abenner , saying , Wilt thou not answer , Abenner ? and Abenner answered and said , Who art thou that callest ? (note :)Hebrews . +«to the king ’; Alex . «me to the king ’(:note ) * And David said to Abenner , Art not thou a man ? and who is like thee in Israel ? Why then dost thou not guard thy lord the king ? for one out of the people went in to destroy thy lord the king . * And this thing is not good which thou hast done . As the Lord lives , ye are (note :)Gr . sons of slaughter (:note ) worthy of death , ye who guard your lord the king , the anointed of the Lord : and now behold , I pray you , the spear of the king , and the cruse of water : where are the articles that should be at his head ? * And Saul recognized the voice of David , and said , Is this thy voice , son David ? and David said , I am thy servant , my lord , O king . * And he said , Why does my lord thus pursue after his servant ? for in what have I sinned ? and what unrighteousness has been found in me ? * And now let my lord the king hear the word of his servant . If God stirs thee up against me , let thine offering be acceptable : but if the sons of men , they are cursed before the Lord , for they have cast me out this day so that I should not be established in the inheritance of the Lord , saying , Go , serve other Gods . * And now let not my blood fall to the ground before (note :)Gr . the face of the Lord (:note ) the Lord , for the king of Israel has come forth to seek my life , as the night hawk pursues its prey in the mountains . * And Saul said , I have sinned : turn , son David , for I will not hurt thee , because my life was precious in thine eyes ; and to-day I have been foolish and have erred exceedingly . * And David answered and said , Behold , the spear of the king : let one of the servants come over and take it . * And the Lord shall recompense each according to his righteousness and his truth , since the Lord delivered thee this day into my hands , and I would not lift my hand against the Lord ’s anointed . * And , behold , as thy life has been (note :)Gr . magnified (:note ) precious this very day in my eyes , so let my life be precious before the Lord , and may he protect me , and Gr . shall deliver deliver me out of all affliction . * And Saul said to David , Blessed be thou , my son ; and thou shalt surely do valiantly , and surely prevail . And David went on his way , and Saul returned to his place .

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