1 Samuel 26

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Some men from Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said, 'Look, David is hiding on the Hil of Hachilah onthe edge of the wastelands!'	1 And the men of Ziph came to Saul in Gabaa, saying: Behold David is hid in the hill of Hachila, which is over against the wilderness.
2 So Saul set off and went down to the desert of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand picked men ofIsrael, to search for David in the desert of Ziph.	2 And Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 Saul pitched camp on the Hil of Hachilah, which is on the edge of the wastelands near the road. Davidwas then living in the desert and saw that Saul had come after him into the desert.	3 And Saul encamped in Gabaa Hachila, which was over against the wilderness in the way: and David abode in the wilderness. And seeing that Saul was come after him into the wilderness,
4 Accordingly, David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed arrived.	4 He sent spies, and learned that he was most certainly come thither.
5 Setting off, David went to the place where Saul had pitched camp. He saw the place where Saul andAbner son of Ner, commander of his army, had bedded down. Saul had bedded down inside the camp with thetroops bivouacking round him.	5 And David arose secretly, and came to the place where Saul was: and when he had beheld the place, wherein Saul slept, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army, and Saul sleeping in a tent, and the rest of the multitude round about him,
6 Speaking to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah and brother of Joab, David said, 'Whowil come down with me to the camp, to Saul?' Abishai answered, 'I will go down with you.'	6 David spoke to Achimelech the Hethite, and Abisai the son of Sarvia the brother of Joab, saying: Who will go down with me to Saul into the camp? And Abisai said: I will go with thee.
7 So in the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lyingasleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying roundhim.	7 So David and Abisai came to the people by night, and found Saul lying and sleeping in the tent, and his spear fixed in the ground at his head: and Abner and the people sleeping round about him.
8 Abishai then said to David, 'Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him tothe ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I shal not need to strike him twice.'	8 And Abisai said to David: God hath shut up thy enemy this day into thy hands: now then I will run him through with my spear even to the earth at once, and there shall be no need of a second time.
9 David said to Abishai, 'Do not kil him, for who could raise his hand against Yahweh's anointed and gounpunished?	9 And David said to Abisai: Kill him not: for who shall put forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and shall be guiltless?
10 As Yahweh lives,' David said, 'Yahweh himself wil strike him down: either the day wil come for himto die, or he will go into battle and perish then.	10 And David said: As the Lord liveth, unless the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go down to battle and perish:
11 Yahweh forbid that I should raise my hand against Yahweh's anointed! But now let us take the spearbeside his head and the pitcher of water, and let us go away.'	11 The Lord be merciful unto me, that I extend not my hand upon the Lord's anointed. But now take the spear, which is at his head, and the cup of water, and let us go.
12 David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul's head, and they made off. No onesaw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were al asleep, because a torpor from Yahweh had fal en on them.	12 So David took the spear, and the cup of water which was at Saul's head, and they went away: and no man saw it, or knew it, or awaked, but they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.
13 David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was awide space between them.	13 And when David was gone over to the other side. and stood on the top of the hill afar off, and a good space was between them,
14 David then cal ed out to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, 'Abner, why don't you answer?' Abnerreplied, 'Who is that calling?'	14 David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying: Wilt thou not answer, Abner? And Abner answering, said: Who art thou, that criest, and disturbest the king?
15 David said to Abner, 'Are you not a man? Who is your equal in Israel? Why, then, did you not guardthe king your lord? One of the people came to kill the king your lord.	15 And David said to Abner: Art not thou a man? and who is like thee in Israel? why then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to kill the king thy lord.
16 What you did was not wel done. As Yahweh lives, you all deserve to die since you did not guardyour lord, Yahweh's anointed. Look where the king's spear is now, and the pitcher of water which was beside hishead!'	16 This thing is not good, that thou hast done: as the Lord liveth, you are the sons of death, who have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now where is the king's spear, and the cup of water, which was at his head?
17 Recognising David's voice, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' David replied, 'It is myvoice, my lord king.	17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said: Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said: It is my voice, my lord the king.
18 Why is my lord pursuing his servant?' he said. 'What have I done? What crime have I committed?	18 And he said: Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? What have I done? or what evil is there in my hand?
19 May my lord king now listen to his servant's words: if Yahweh has incited you against me, may he beappeased with an offering; but if human beings have done it, may they be accursed before Yahweh, since theyhave as effectively banished me today from sharing in Yahweh's heritage as if they had said, "Go and serveother gods!"	19 Now therefore hear, I pray thee, my lord the king, the words of thy servant: If the Lord stir thee up against me, let him accept of sacrifice: but if the sons of men, they are cursed in the sight of the Lord, who have cast me out this day, that I should not dwell in the inheritance of the Lord, saying: Go, serve strange gods.
20 So I pray now that my blood shall not be shed on soil remote from Yahweh's presence, when theking of Israel has mounted an expedition to take my life, as one might hunt a partridge in the mountains!'	20 And now let not my blood be shed upon the earth before the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as the partridge is hunted in the mountains.
21 Saul replied, 'I have done wrong! Come back, my son David; I shal never harm you again, sincetoday you have shown respect for my life. Yes, I have behaved like a fool, I have been profoundly in the wrong.'	21 And Saul said: I have sinned, return, my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes this day: for it appeareth that I have done foolishly, and have been ignorant in very many things.
22 In reply, David said, 'Here is the king's spear. Let one of the men come across and get it.	22 And David answering, said: Behold the king's spear: let one of the king's servants come over and fetch it.
23 May Yahweh reward each as each has been upright and loyal. Today Yahweh put you in my powerbut I would not raise my hand against Yahweh's anointed.	23 And the Lord will reward every one according to his justice, and his faithfulness: for the Lord hath delivered thee this day into my hand, and I would not put forth my hand against the Lord's anointed.
24 As today I set great value by your life, so may Yahweh set great value by my life and deliver me fromevery tribulation!'	24 And as thy life hath been much set by this day in my eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord, and let him deliver me from all distress.
25 Saul then said, 'May you be blessed, my son David! In what you undertake, you wil certainlysucceed.' David then went on his way and Saul returned home.	25 Then Saul said to David: Blessed art thou, my son David: and truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.