1Samuel:26

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* And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah Gib #ah #, saying , Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah , which is before Jeshimon ? * 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 . * 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 . * David therefore sent out spies , and understood that Saul was come in very deed . * 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 ma #gal #, and the people pitched round about him . * Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite , and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah , brother to Joab Yow #ab #, saying , Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp ? And Abishai said , I will go down with thee . * So David and Abishai came to the people by night : and , behold , Saul lay sleeping within the trench ma #gal #, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster m @ra #ashah #: but Abner and the people lay round about him . * 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 #H259 , and I will not smite him the second time . * And David said to Abishai , Destroy him not : for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORDS anointed , and be guiltless ? * 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 . * The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORDS anointed : but , I pray thee , take thou now the spear that is at his bolster m @ra #ashah #, and the cruse of water , and let us go . * So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Sauls bolster ra #ashoth #; 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 . * Then David went over to the other side , and stood on the top of an hill afar off ; a great space being between them : * 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 ? * And David said to Abner , Art not thou a valiant man ? and who is like to thee in Israel Yisra #el #? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king ? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord . * 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 LORDS anointed . And now see where the kings spear is , and the cruse of water that was at his bolster m @ra #ashah #. * And Saul knew Davids voice , and said , Is this thy voice , my son David ? And David said , It is my voice , my lord , O king . * And he said , Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant ? for what have I done ? or what evil is in mine hand ? * 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 . * 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 par #osh #, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains . * Then said Saul Sha #uwl #, 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 m @#od #. * And David answered and said , Behold the kings spear ! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it . * 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 LORDS anointed . * 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 . * 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 .

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