I Samuel 26

vayyavo'u hazzifim el-sha'ul haggivatah lemor halo david mistatter begivat hakhakhilah al pene hayeshimon

The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, “David is hiding in the hill of Hachilah facing Jeshimon.”

vayyaqom sha'ul vayyered el-midbar-zif ve'itto sheloshet-alafim ish bekhure yisra'el levaqqesh et-david bemidbar-zif

Saul went down at once to the wilderness of Ziph, together with three thousand of Israel’s best troops, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph,

vayyikhan sha'ul begivat hakhakhilah asher al-pene hayeshimon al-haddarekh vedavid yoshev bammidbar vayyar ki va sha'ul akharayw hammidbarah

and Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah that faces Jeshimon, by the road. When David, who was then living in the wilderness, learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness,

vayyishlakh david meraggelim vayyeda ki-va sha'ul el-nakhon

David sent out scouts and made sure that Saul had come.

vayyaqom david vayyavo el-hammaqom asher khanah-sham sha'ul vayyar david et-hammaqom asher shakhav-sham sha'ul ve'avner ben-ner sar-tseva'o vesha'ul shokhev bammagal veha'am khonim sevivotav

David went at once to the place where Saul had encamped, and David saw the spot where Saul and his army commander, Abner son of Ner, lay asleep. Saul lay asleep inside the barricade and the troops were posted around him.

vayya'an david vayyomer el-akhimelekh hakhitti ve'el-avishay ben-tseruyah akhi yo'av lemor mi-yered itti el-sha'ul el-hammakhaneh vayyomer avishay ani ered immakh

David spoke up and asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai answered, “I will go down with you.”

vayyavo david va'avishay el-ha'am laylah vehinneh sha'ul shokhev yashen bammagal vakhanito me'ukhah-va'arets mera'ashotav ve'avner veha'am shokhevim sevivotav

So David and Abishai approached the troops by night, and found Saul fast asleep inside the barricade, his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the troops sleeping around him.

vayyomer avishay el-david siggar elohim hayyom et-oyivkha beyadekha ve'attah akkennu na bakhanit uva'arets pa'am akhat velo eshneh lo

And Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hands today. Let me pin him to the ground with a single thrust of the spear. I will not have to strike him twice.”

vayyomer david el-avishay al-tashkhitehu ki mi shalakh yado bimshiakh Adonai veniqqah

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t do him violence! No one can lay hands on GOD’s anointed with impunity.”

vayyomer david khay-Adonai ki im-Adonai yiggofennu o-yomo yavo vamet o vammilkhamah yered venispah

And David went on, “As GOD lives, GOD will strike him down directly, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go down to battle and perish.

khalilah li me-Adonai misheloakh yadi bimshiakh Adonai ve'attah qakh-na et-hakhanit asher mera'ashotav ve'et-tsappakhat hammayim venelekhah-llanu

But GOD forbid that I should lay a hand on GOD’s anointed! Just take the spear and the water jar at his head and let’s be off.”

vayyiqqakh david et-hakhanit ve'et-tsappakhat hammayim mera'ashote sha'ul vayyelekhu lahem ve'en ro'eh ve'en yodea ve'en meqits ki khullam yeshenim ki tardemat Adonai nafelah alehem

So David took away the spear and the water jar at Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew or woke up; all remained asleep; a deep sleep from GOD had fallen upon them.

vayya'avor david ha'ever vayya'amod al-rosh-hahar merakhoq rav hammaqom benehem

David crossed over to the other side and stood afar on top of a hill; there was considerable distance between them.

vayyiqra david el-ha'am ve'el-avner ben-ner lemor halo ta'aneh avner vayya'an avner vayyomer mi attah qarata el-hammelekh

And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Abner, aren’t you going to answer?” And Abner shouted back, “Who are you to shout at the king?”

vayyomer david el-avner halo-ish attah umi khamokha beyisra'el velammah lo shamarta el-adonekha hammelekh ki-va akhad ha'am lehashkhit et-hammelekh adonekha

And David answered Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And there is no one like you in Israel! So why didn’t you keep watch over your lord the king? For one of [our] troops came to do violence to your lord the king.

lo-tov haddavar hazzeh asher asita khay-Adonai ki vene-mavet attem asher lo-shemartem al-adonekhem al-meshiakh Adonai ve'attah re'eh e-khanit hammelekh ve'et-tsappakhat hammayim asher mera'ashotav

You have not given a good account of yourself! As GOD lives, you all deserve to die, because you did not keep watch over your lord, GOD’s anointed. Look around, where are the king’s spear and the water jar that were at his head?”

vayyakker sha'ul et-qol david vayyomer haqolekha zeh beni david vayyomer david qoli adoni hammelekh

Saul recognized David’s voice, and he asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And David replied, “It is, my lord king.”

vayyomer lammah zeh adoni rodef akhare avdo ki meh asiti umah-bbeyadi ra'ah

And he went on, “But why does my lord continue to pursue his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?

ve'attah yishma-na adoni hammelekh et divre avdo im-Adonai hesitekha vi yarakh minkhah ve'im bene ha'adam arurim hem lifne Adonai ki-gereshuni hayyom mehistappeakh benakhalat Adonai lemor lekh avod elohim akherim

Now let my lord the king hear his servant out. If GOD has incited you against me, let an offering provide appeasement; but if it was other people, may they be accursed of GOD! For they have driven me out today, so that I cannot have a share in GOD’s possession, but am told, ‘Go and worship other gods.’

ve'attah al-yippol dami artsah minneged pene Adonai ki-yatsa melekh yisra'el levaqqesh et-parosh ekhad ka'asher yirdof haqqore beharim

Oh, let my blood not fall to the ground, away from GOD’s presence! For the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea—as if he were hunting a partridge in the hills.”

vayyomer sha'ul khatati shuv beni-david ki lo-ara lekha od takhat asher yaqerah nafshi be'enekha hayyom hazzeh hinneh hiskalti va'eshgeh harbeh me'od

And Saul answered, “I am in the wrong. Come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, seeing how you have held my life precious this day. Yes, I have been a fool, and I have erred so very much.”

vayya'an david vayyomer hinneh (hkhnyt) [khanit] hammelekh veya'avor ekhad mehanne'arim veyiqqakheha

David replied, “Here is Your Majesty’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it.

va-Adonai yashiv la'ish et-tsidqato ve'et-emunato asher netanekha Adonai hayyom beyad velo aviti lishloakh yadi bimshiakh Adonai

And GOD will requite everyone for their right conduct and loyalty—for this day GOD delivered you into my hands and I would not raise a hand against GOD’s anointed.

vehinneh ka'asher godlah nafshekha hayyom hazzeh be'enay ken tigdal nafshi be'ene Adonai veyatsileni mikkol-tsarah

And just as I valued your life highly this day, so may GOD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.”

vayyomer sha'ul el-david barukh attah beni david gam asoh ta'aseh vegam yakhol tukhal vayyelekh david ledarko vesha'ul shav limqomo

Saul answered David, “May you be blessed, my son David. You shall achieve, and you shall prevail.” David then went his way, and Saul returned home.