1 Samuel 26:1-11 ▼

1 The Ziphites came againe vnto Saul to Gibea, saying: Doth not Dauid hide him selfe in the hill of Hachilia, which is before Iesimon?

2 Saul arose, & went downe to the wildernes of Ziph, hauing three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, for to seke Dauid in the wildernesse of Ziph.

3 And Saul pitched in the hil of Hachilia, which is before Iesimon by the way side: But Dauid dwelt in the wildernesse, and he sawe that Saul came after him into the wildernesse:

4 Dauid therefore sent out spies, & vnderstoode that Saul was come in very deede.

5 And Dauid arose, & came to the place where Saul had pitched: & Dauid beheld the place where Saul lay, & Abner the sonne of Ner which was his chiefe captayne: for Saul lay in the fort, & the people pytched rounde about him.

6 Then aunswered Dauid, and spake to Ahimelech the Hethite, and to Abisai the sonne of Zaruia, & brother to Ioab, saying: Who wyll go downe with me to Saul to the hoast? And Abisai saide: I wyll go downe with thee.

7 And so Dauid and Abisai came downe to the people by night, and behold Saul lay sleepyng within the fort, and his speare stacke in ye grounde at his head: but Abner and the people lay rounde about hym.

8 Then saide Abisai to Dauid, God hath closed thyne enemie into thyne hand thys day: Nowe I pray thee let me smite him once with my speare to the earth, & I will not smite him the second tyme.

9 And Dauid saide to Abisai, Destroye him not: For who can laye his hand on the Lordes annoynted, and be giltlesse?

10 And Dauid sayd furthermore: As the Lorde lyueth, the Lorde shall smyte him or his day shall come to dye, or he shall descend into battaile, and perishe.

11 The Lorde kepe me from laying myne hand vpon the Lordes annoynted: But I praye thee take thou nowe the speare that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let vs go.