1And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon? 2Then 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. 3And 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. 4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.
5¶ 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, and the people pitched round about him.26.5 trench: or, midst of his carriages
6Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee. 7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. 8Then 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, and I will not smite him the second time.26.8 delivered: Heb. shut up 9And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless? 10David 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. 11The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go. 12So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; 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.
13¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them: 14And 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? 15And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. 16This 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 LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.26.16 worthy to die: Heb. the sons of death 17And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 18And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand? 19Now 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.26.19 accept: Heb. smell26.19 abiding: Heb. cleaving 20Now 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, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21¶ Then said Saul, 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. 22And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23The 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 LORD’s anointed. 24And, 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. 25Then 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.
大卫再次放过扫罗
1西弗人到基比亚见扫罗，说：“大卫正躲在旷野附近的哈基拉山中。” 2扫罗就带领三千以色列精兵到西弗的旷野去追捕大卫。 3他们在旷野附近路边的哈基拉山上扎营。大卫在旷野听说扫罗追来了， 4就派人去打探消息，得知扫罗的追兵果然已到。 5大卫来到扫罗的营地，看见了他和他的元帅——尼珥的儿子押尼珥睡觉的地方，他睡在军营中间，其他人围绕着他扎营。 6大卫问赫人亚希米勒和洗鲁雅的儿子约押的兄弟亚比筛：“谁愿意跟我到扫罗的营里？”亚比筛答道：“我愿意。” 7大卫和亚比筛就趁夜间走进扫罗的军营，发现扫罗正在熟睡，他的矛插在地上，靠近他的头，押尼珥和其他人睡在他周围。 8亚比筛对大卫说：“现在上帝把你的敌人交在你手中了，让我一矛把他钉在地上，决不用刺第二下。” 9大卫却说：“不要杀他，谁杀害耶和华所膏立的王，都难逃罪责。 10我凭永活的耶和华起誓，耶和华必亲手击杀他。他要么寿终而死，要么命丧沙场。 11我在耶和华面前绝不敢出手伤害祂所膏立的王。我们拿走他旁边的矛和水瓶吧。” 12大卫拿上扫罗的矛和水瓶同亚比筛离开了，没有人看见，没有人知道，他们都在沉睡，没有人醒来，因为耶和华使他们都熟睡了。
13大卫爬上营地对面的山坡，远远地站在山顶上，与他们相距很远。 14他呼喊扫罗的士兵和尼珥的儿子押尼珥：“押尼珥，你回答我！”押尼珥问道：“你是谁，竟敢在王面前喊叫？” 15大卫说：“你不是勇士吗？在以色列有谁比得上你呢？有人来刺杀你的王，你的主，你为何没有保护他呢？ 16你失职了。我凭永活的耶和华起誓，你们都该死。因为你们没有保护你们的主——耶和华所膏立的王。你看看王身边的矛和水瓶在哪里？”
17扫罗听出是大卫的声音，就说：“我儿大卫！是你吗？”大卫答道：“我主我王啊，是我。 18我主为什么又要追杀仆人呢？我做错了什么，犯了什么罪？ 19我主我王，请听仆人说，如果是耶和华使你与我作对，愿祂悦纳我献上的祭物；如果这是出于人的主意，愿他们在耶和华面前受咒诅。因为他们赶我离开耶和华所赐的产业，叫我去服侍外族人的神明。 20求你不要让我死在远离耶和华的异乡！以色列王为何要像在山上猎杀鹧鸪一样追捕一只跳蚤呢？”
21扫罗说：“我犯罪了。我儿大卫，你回来吧，我不会再伤害你，因为你今日保存了我的性命。我真是糊涂，犯了大错。” 22大卫答道：“王的矛在这里，请派一个人来拿回去吧。 23耶和华赐福给公义、信实的人。今天耶和华把你交在我手中，但我不愿下手伤害耶和华所膏立的王。 24我今天保存了你的性命，愿耶和华也保存我的性命，救我脱离一切患难。” 25扫罗对大卫说：“我儿大卫，愿你蒙福。你一定能建功立业，战胜仇敌。”于是，大卫起身离开，扫罗也回家去了。
