Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 26"

1 Samuel 26

The Message Bible MSG

1 Some Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Did you know that David is hiding out on the Hakilah Hill just opposite Jeshimon?"

2 Saul was on his feet in a minute and on his way to the wilderness of Ziph, taking three thousand of his best men, the pick of the crop, to hunt for David in that wild desert.

3 He camped just off the road at the Hakilah Hill, opposite Jeshimon.

4 He sent scouts to determine his precise location.

5 Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had set up camp and saw for himself where Saul and Abner, son of Ner, his general, were staying. Saul was safely inside the camp, encircled by the army.

6 Taking charge, David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother: "Who will go down with me and enter Saul's camp?" Abishai whispered, "I'll go with you."

7 So David and Abishai entered the encampment by night, and there he was - Saul, stretched out asleep at the center of the camp, his spear stuck in the ground near his head, with Abner and the troops sound asleep on all sides.

8 Abishai said, "This is the moment! God has put your enemy in your grasp. Let me nail him to the ground with his spear. One hit will do it, believe me; I won't need a second!"

9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't you dare hurt him! Who could lay a hand on God's anointed and even think of getting away with it?"

10 He went on, "As God lives, either God will strike him, or his time will come and he'll die in bed, or he'll fall in battle,

11 but God forbid that I should lay a finger on God's anointed. Now, grab the spear at his head and the water jug and let's get out of here."

12 David took the spear and water jug that were right beside Saul's head, and they slipped away. Not a soul saw. Not a soul knew. No one woke up! They all slept through the whole thing. A blanket of deep sleep from God had fallen on them.

13 Then David went across to the opposite hill and stood far away on the top of the mountain. With this safe distance between them,

14 he shouted across to the army and Abner son of Ner, "Hey Abner! How long do I have to wait for you to wake up and answer me?" Abner said, "Who's calling?"

15 "Aren't you in charge there?" said David. "Why aren't you minding the store? Why weren't you standing guard over your master the king, when a soldier came to kill the king your master?

16 Bad form! As God lives, your life should be forfeit, you and the entire bodyguard. Look what I have - the king's spear and water jug that were right beside his head!"

17 By now, Saul had recognized David's voice and said, "Is that you, my son David?"

18 Why are you after me, hunting me down? What have I done? What crime have I committed?

19 Oh, my master, my king, listen to this from your servant: If God has stirred you up against me, then I gladly offer my life as a sacrifice. But if it's men who have done it, let them be banished from God's presence! They've expelled me from my rightful place in God's heritage, sneering, 'Out of here! Go get a job with some other god!'

20 But you're not getting rid of me that easily; you'll not separate me from God in life or death. The absurdity! The king of Israel obsessed with a single flea! Hunting me down - a mere partridge - out in the hills!"

21 Saul confessed, "I've sinned! Oh, come back, my dear son David! I won't hurt you anymore. You've honored me this day, treating my life as most precious. And I've acted the fool - a moral dunce, a real clown."

22 David answered, "See what I have here? The king's spear. Let one of your servants come and get it.

23 It's God's business to decide what to do with each of us in regard to what's right and who's loyal. God put your life in my hands today, but I wasn't willing to lift a finger against God's anointed.

24 Just as I honored your life today, may God honor my life and rescue me from all trouble."

25 Saul said to David, "Bless you, dear son David! Yes, do what you have to do! And, yes, succeed in all you attempt!" Then David went on his way, and Saul went home.

New Century Version NCV

1 The people of Ziph went to Saul at Gibeah and said to him, "David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah opposite Jeshimon."

2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to look for David there.

3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah opposite Jeshimon, but David stayed in the desert. When he heard Saul had followed him,

4 he sent out spies and learned for certain that Saul had come to Hakilah.

5 Then David went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul's army, were sleeping. Saul was sleeping in the middle of the camp with all the army around him.

6 David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, "Who will go down into Saul's camp with me?" Abishai answered, "I'll go with you."

7 So that night David and Abishai went into Saul's camp. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the army were sleeping around Saul.

8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me pin Saul to the ground with my spear. I'll only have to do it once. I won't need to hit him twice."

9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't kill Saul! No one can harm the Lord's appointed king and still be innocent!

10 As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will punish Saul. Maybe Saul will die naturally, or maybe he will go into battle and be killed.

11 But may the Lord keep me from harming his appointed king! Take the spear and water jug that are near Saul's head. Then let's go."

12 So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw them or knew about it or woke up, because the Lord had put them sound asleep.

13 David crossed over to the other side of the hill and stood on top of the mountain far from Saul's camp. They were a long way away from each other.

14 David shouted to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Won't you answer me, Abner?" Abner answered, "Who is calling for the king? Who are you?"

15 David said, "You're the greatest man in Israel. Isn't that true? Why didn't you guard your master the king? Someone came into your camp to kill your master the king!

16 You have not done well. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men should die. You haven't guarded your master, the Lord's appointed king. Look! Where are the king's spear and water jug that were near his head?"

17 Saul knew David's voice. He said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David answered, "Yes, it is, my master and king."

18 David also said, "Why are you chasing me, my master? What wrong have I done? What evil am I guilty of?

19 My master and king, listen to me. If the Lord made you angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if people did it, may the Lord curse them! They have made me leave the land the Lord gave me. They have told me, 'Go and serve other gods.'

20 Now don't let me die far away from the Lord's presence. The king of Israel has come out looking for a flea! You're just hunting a bird in the mountains!"

21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Today you respected my life, so I will not try to hurt you. I have been very stupid and foolish."

22 David answered, "Here is your spear. Let one of your young men come here and get it.

23 The Lord rewards us for the things we do right and for our loyalty to him. The Lord handed you over to me today, but I wouldn't harm the Lord's appointed king.

24 As I respected your life today, may the Lord also respect my life and save me from all trouble."

25 Then Saul said to David, "You are blessed, my son David. You will do great things and succeed." So David went on his way, and Saul went back home.