The Koine Bible

And the Ziphites come out from the dry land to Saul, to the hill, saying, Behold, David is hidden with us in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon.

And Saul arose and went down into the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men from Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah before Jeshimon, on the road, and David stayed in the wilderness, and David saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness

And David sent spies, and he learned that Saul had come prepared from Keilah.

And David arose secretly and goes into the place where Saul was sleeping there, and there Abennēr son of Ner, his commander-in-chief, and Saul was sleeping in the encampment, and the people having encamped around him

And David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, Who will go in with me to Saul into the camp? And Abishai said, I will go in with you.

And David and Abishai enter into the people by night, and behold, Saul was sleeping in sleep within the camp, and the spear was stuck into the ground by his head, and Abner and his people were sleeping around him

And Abessa said to David, The Lord has shut up your enemy today into your hands, and now I will strike him with the spear into the ground once, and I will not strike him a second time to him.

And David said to Abishai, Do not humble him, for who will put forth his hand against the anointed of the Lord and be guiltless?

And David said, As the Lord lives, if the Lord does not strike him, or his day comes and he dies, or he goes down into battle and is added to it,

Far be it from me, from the Lord, to bring my hand against the anointed of the Lord. And now take, please, the spear from beside his head and the water jug, and let us go away for ourselves.

And David took the spear and the water jug from beside his head, and they went away by themselves, and there was no one seeing, and there was no one knowing, and there was no one waking up; all were sleeping, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

And David crossed over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain far away, and there was much road between them

And David called to the people and spoke to Abner, saying, Will you not answer, Abner? And Abner answered and said, Who are you, you who are calling me?

And David said to Abennēr, Are you not a man, and who is like you in Israel? And why do you not guard your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.

And this thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, for you are sons of death, you who keep watch over the king, your lord, the anointed of the Lord. And now, behold, please, where are the spear of the king and the water jar that were by his head?

And Saul recognized the voice of David and said, Is this your voice, child David? and David said, Your servant, lord, king.

And he said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant, for what have I sinned, and what injustice has been found in me?

And now let my lord the king hear, please, the word of his servant: if God stirs you up against me, may he smell the aroma of your sacrifice; but if it is sons of men, cursed are these before the Lord, because they have driven me out today 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 away from before the face of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek my life, as the partridge is pursued among the mountains.

And Saul said, I have sinned; return, son David, for I will not do you harm, because my life was held in honor in your eyes today. Behold, I have been made vain, and I have been very greatly ignorant.

And David answered and said, Behold, let one of the young men pass over with the king’s spear and take it.

And the Lord will return to each man his righteousness and his faithfulness, because the Lord gave you today into my hands, and I was not willing to lay my hand on the anointed of the Lord.

And behold, just as your life was magnified today in my eyes in this way, so may my life be magnified before the Lord, and may he cover me and deliver me from every affliction.

And Saul said to David, Blessed are you, child, and doing you will do and being able you will be able. And David went away on his way, and Saul returned to his place.