English Standard Version ESV
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon? ”
1
et venerunt Ziphei ad Saul in Gabaa dicentes ecce David absconditus est in colle Achilae quae est ex adverso solitudinis
2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
2
et surrexit Saul et descendit in desertum Ziph et cum eo tria milia virorum de electis Israhel ut quaereret David in deserto Ziph
3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,
3
et castrametatus est Saul in Gabaa Achilae quae erat ex adverso solitudinis in via David autem habitabat in deserto videns autem quod venisset Saul post se in desertum
4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.
4
misit exploratores et didicit quod venisset certissime
5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
5
et surrexit David et venit ad locum ubi erat Saul cumque vidisset locum in quo dormiebat Saul et Abner filius Ner princeps militiae eius Saulem dormientem in tentorio et reliquum vulgus per circuitum eius
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul? ” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you. ”
6
ait David ad Ahimelech Cettheum et Abisai filium Sarviae fratrem Ioab dicens quis descendet mecum ad Saul in castra dixitque Abisai ego descendam tecum
7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him.
7
venerunt ergo David et Abisai ad populum nocte et invenerunt Saul iacentem et dormientem in tentorio et hastam fixam in terra ad caput eius Abner autem et populum dormientes in circuitu eius
8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice. ”
8
dixitque Abisai ad David conclusit Deus hodie inimicum tuum in manus tuas nunc ergo perfodiam eum lancea in terra semel et secundo opus non erit
9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? ”
9
et dixit David ad Abisai ne interficias eum quis enim extendit manum suam in christum Domini et innocens erit
10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.
10
et dixit David vivit Dominus quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum aut dies eius venerit ut moriatur aut in proelium descendens perierit
11 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go. ”
11
propitius mihi sit Dominus ne extendam manum meam in christum Domini nunc igitur tolle hastam quae est ad caput eius et scyphum aquae et abeamus
12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
12
tulit ergo David hastam et scyphum aquae qui erat ad caput Saul et abierunt et non erat quisquam qui videret et intellegeret et vigilaret sed omnes dormiebant quia sopor Domini inruerat super eos
13 Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them.
13
cumque transisset David ex adverso et stetisset in vertice montis de longe et esset grande intervallum inter eos
14 And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner? ” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king? ”
14
clamavit David ad populum et ad Abner filium Ner dicens nonne respondebis Abner et respondens Abner ait quis es tu qui clamas et inquietas regem
15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.
15
et ait David ad Abner numquid non vir tu es et quis alius similis tui in Israhel quare ergo non custodisti dominum tuum regem ingressus est enim unus de turba ut interficeret regem dominum tuum
16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head. ”
16
non est bonum hoc quod fecisti vivit Dominus quoniam filii mortis estis vos qui non custodistis dominum vestrum christum Domini nunc ergo vide ubi sit hasta regis et ubi scyphus aquae qui erat ad caput eius
17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David? ” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king. ”
17
cognovit autem Saul vocem David et dixit num vox tua est haec fili mi David et David vox mea domine mi rex
18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?
18
et ait quam ob causam dominus meus persequitur servum suum quid feci aut quod est in manu mea malum
19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods. ’
19
nunc ergo audi oro domine mi rex verba servi tui si Dominus incitat te adversum me odoretur sacrificium si autem filii hominum maledicti sunt in conspectu Domini qui eiecerunt me hodie ut non habitem in hereditate Domini dicentes vade servi diis alienis
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains. ”
20
et nunc non effundatur sanguis meus in terra coram Domino quia egressus est rex Israhel ut quaerat pulicem unum sicut persequitur perdix in montibus
21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake. ”
21
et ait Saul peccavi revertere fili mi David nequaquam enim ultra male tibi faciam eo quod pretiosa fuerit anima mea in oculis tuis hodie apparet quod stulte egerim et ignoraverim multa nimis
22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it.
22
et respondens David ait ecce hasta regis transeat unus de pueris et tollat eam
23 The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.
23
Dominus autem retribuet unicuique secundum iustitiam suam et fidem tradidit enim te Dominus hodie in manu mea et nolui levare manum meam in christum Domini
24 Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation. ”
24
et sicuti magnificata est anima tua hodie in oculis meis sic magnificetur anima mea in oculis Domini et liberet me de omni angustia
25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them. ” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
25
ait ergo Saul ad David benedictus tu fili mi David et quidem faciens facies et potens poteris abiit autem David in viam suam et Saul reversus est in locum suum
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.