1 Samuel 26
New King James Version
David Spares Saul a Second Time
26 Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, (A)“Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon?” 2 Then Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, having (B)three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon, by the road. But David stayed in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had indeed come.
5 So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and (C)Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him. 6 Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai (D)the son of Zeruiah, brother of (E)Joab, saying, “Who will (F)go down with me to Saul in the camp?”
And (G)Abishai said, “I will go down with you.”
7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, (H)“God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him [a]at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; (I)for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, (J)the Lord shall strike him, or (K)his day shall come to die, or he shall (L)go out to battle and perish. 11 (M)The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because (N)a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
13 Now David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great distance being between them. 14 And David called out to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Do you not answer, Abner?”
Then Abner answered and said, “Who are you, calling out to the king?”
15 So David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”
17 Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, (O)“Is that your voice, my son David?”
David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, (P)“Why does my lord thus pursue his servant? For what have I done, or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has (Q)stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the Lord, (R)for they have driven me out this day from sharing in the (S)inheritance of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. For the king of Israel has come out to seek (T)a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, (U)“I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”
22 And David answered and said, “Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the young men come over and get it. 23 (V)May the Lord (W)repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the Lord delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. 24 And indeed, as your life was valued much this day in my eyes, so let my life be valued much in the eyes of the Lord, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation.”
25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still (X)prevail.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 26:8 Or one time
1 Samuel 26
English Standard Version
David Spares Saul Again
26 (A)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?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to (B)the wilderness of Ziph with (C)three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of 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, 4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with (D)Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within (E)the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.
6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother (F)Abishai the son of Zeruiah, (G)“Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within (H)the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground (I)at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, (J)“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.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand (K)against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, (L)“As the Lord lives, (M)the Lord will strike him, or (N)his day will come to die, (O)or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 (P)The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is (Q)at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 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 (R)a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.
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. 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?” 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. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. (S)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 (T)at his head.”
17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, (U)“Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, (V)“Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 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, (W)for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in (X)the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 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 (Y)a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21 Then Saul said, (Z)“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.” 22 And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 (AA)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. 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.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will (AB)succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
1 Samuel 26
La Palabra (Hispanoamérica)
David perdona de nuevo a Saúl
26 Gentes de Zif llegaron a Guibeá a informar a Saúl:
— David está escondido en la colina de Jaquilá, frente al desierto.
2 Entonces Saúl se puso en camino y bajó al desierto de Zif con tres mil hombres de lo más selecto de Israel para buscar allí a David. 3 Saúl acampó en la colina de Jaquilá, frente al desierto, al lado del camino. Pero David, que vivía en el desierto, se enteró de que Saúl había venido a perseguirlo al desierto 4 y envió espías para investigar dónde estaba Saúl. 5 Entonces David fue hasta el lugar donde estaba acampado Saúl e inspeccionó el sitio donde estaban acostados Saúl y Abner, el hijo de Ner, general de su ejército. Saúl estaba acostado dentro del recinto y la gente acampaba a su alrededor. 6 David consultó con Ajimélec, el hitita, y con Abisay, hijo de Seruyá y hermano de Joab y les preguntó:
— ¿Quién está dispuesto a bajar conmigo al campamento de Saúl?
Y Abisay respondió:
— Yo bajaré contigo.
7 David y Abisay llegaron, pues, hasta donde estaba la tropa. Saúl dormía acostado dentro del recinto, con su lanza clavada en el suelo junto a la cabecera. Abner y la tropa estaban acostados a su alrededor. 8 Abisay dijo a David:
— Dios pone hoy a tu enemigo en tus manos. Déjame, pues, que lo clave en tierra de una sola lanzada y no habrá que rematarlo.
9 Pero David respondió a Abisay:
— No lo mates, porque no se puede atentar impunemente contra el ungido del Señor.
10 Y añadió:
— ¡Vive Dios, que habrá de ser el Señor quien lo hiera, o cuando le llegue la hora de la muerte, o cuando caiga y perezca al entrar en combate! 11 ¡El Señor me libre de atentar contra su ungido! Así que toma la lanza que está a su cabecera y la cantimplora, y vámonos.
12 David tomó la lanza y la cantimplora de la cabecera de Saúl y se marcharon, sin que nadie los viese, ni se enterase, ni despertase. Todos estaban dormidos, pues el Señor los había hecho caer en un profundo sueño. 13 David cruzó al lado opuesto, se detuvo lejos, en la cima del monte, dejando una buena distancia entre ellos 14 y gritó a la tropa y a Abner, el hijo de Ner:
— Abner, respóndeme.
Abner respondió:
— ¿Quién eres tú para gritar al rey?
15 David le dijo:
— Tú, que eres el hombre más aguerrido de Israel, ¿cómo es que no has protegido al rey, tu señor, cuando un cualquiera ha ido a matarlo? 16 No está bien lo que has hecho. Vive Dios que ustedes merecen la muerte por no haber protegido a su señor, al ungido del Señor. ¡Mira, si no, dónde están la lanza del rey y la cantimplora que había a su cabecera!
17 Entonces Saúl reconoció la voz de David y le dijo:
— ¿Es esa tu voz, David, hijo mío?
David respondió:
— Sí, es mi voz, majestad.
18 Y añadió:
— ¿Por qué persigue mi señor a este siervo suyo? ¿Qué he hecho yo? ¿Qué delito he cometido? 19 Ruego a mi señor, el rey, que se digne escuchar las palabras de su siervo. Si es el Señor quien te empuja contra mí, se aplacará con una ofrenda; pero si son los hombres, ¡que el Señor los maldiga! Porque hoy me expulsan y me impiden participar en la herencia del Señor, mandándome a servir a otros dioses. 20 Que no caiga, pues mi sangre por tierra, lejos de la presencia del Señor, ya que el rey de Israel ha salido en busca de una simple pulga, como si fuese a cazar una perdiz en el monte.
21 Saúl le dijo:
— He pecado. Regresa, David, hijo mío, que no volveré a hacerte daño, pues hoy has respetado mi vida. He sido un insensato y me he equivocado del todo.
22 David le respondió:
— ¡Aquí está la lanza del rey! Que alguno de los muchachos venga a recogerla. 23 El Señor pagará a cada cual según su justicia y su lealtad. El Señor te ha entregado hoy en mi mano, pero yo no he querido levantar mi mano contra el ungido del Señor. 24 Y así como yo he respetado hoy tu vida, que el Señor respete la mía y me libre de cualquier peligro.
25 Y Saúl dijo a David:
— ¡Bendito seas, David, hijo mío! Tendrás éxito en todas tus empresas.
Luego David siguió su camino y Saúl regresó a casa.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
La Palabra, (versión hispanoamericana) © 2010 Texto y Edición, Sociedad Bíblica de España