1 Samuel 26

New International Version

David Again Spares Saul’s Life

26 The Ziphites^(A) went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding^(B) on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?^(C)”

²So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search^(D) there for David. ³Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah^(E) facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

⁵Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner^(F) son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite^(G) and Abishai^(H) son of Zeruiah,^(I) Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

⁷So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed^(J) and be guiltless?^(K) ¹⁰As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike^(L) him, or his time^(M) will come and he will die,^(N) or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹²So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.^(O)

¹³Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice,^(P) David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong^(Q) am I guilty of? ¹⁹Now let my lord the king listen^(R) to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering.^(S) If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance^(T) and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’^(U) ²⁰Now do not let my blood^(V) fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea^(W)—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.^(X)”

²¹Then Saul said, “I have sinned.^(Y) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious^(Z) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²²“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³The Lord rewards^(AA) everyone for their righteousness^(AB) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered^(AC) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver^(AD) me from all trouble.”

²⁵Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed,^(AE) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Psalm 31

New International Version

Psalm 31^[a]^(A)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;^(B)
    let me never be put to shame;
    deliver me in your righteousness.^(C)
²Turn your ear to me,^(D)
    come quickly to my rescue;^(E)
be my rock of refuge,^(F)
    a strong fortress to save me.
³Since you are my rock and my fortress,^(G)
    for the sake of your name^(H) lead and guide me.
⁴Keep me free from the trap^(I) that is set for me,
    for you are my refuge.^(J)
⁵Into your hands I commit my spirit;^(K)
    deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.^(L)

⁶I hate those who cling to worthless idols;^(M)
    as for me, I trust in the Lord.^(N)
⁷I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
    for you saw my affliction^(O)
    and knew the anguish^(P) of my soul.
⁸You have not given me into the hands^(Q) of the enemy
    but have set my feet in a spacious place.^(R)

⁹Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;^(S)
    my eyes grow weak with sorrow,^(T)
    my soul and body^(U) with grief.
¹⁰My life is consumed by anguish^(V)
    and my years by groaning;^(W)
my strength fails^(X) because of my affliction,^[b]^(Y)
    and my bones grow weak.^(Z)
¹¹Because of all my enemies,^(AA)
    I am the utter contempt^(AB) of my neighbors^(AC)
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
    those who see me on the street flee from me.
¹²I am forgotten as though I were dead;^(AD)
    I have become like broken pottery.
¹³For I hear many whispering,^(AE)
    “Terror on every side!”^(AF)
They conspire against me^(AG)
    and plot to take my life.^(AH)

¹⁴But I trust^(AI) in you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵My times^(AJ) are in your hands;
    deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
    from those who pursue me.
¹⁶Let your face shine^(AK) on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love.^(AL)
¹⁷Let me not be put to shame,^(AM) Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent^(AN) in the realm of the dead.
¹⁸Let their lying lips^(AO) be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly^(AP) against the righteous.

¹⁹How abundant are the good things^(AQ)
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,^(AR)
    on those who take refuge^(AS) in you.
²⁰In the shelter^(AT) of your presence you hide^(AU) them
    from all human intrigues;^(AV)
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

²¹Praise be to the Lord,^(AW)
    for he showed me the wonders of his love^(AX)
    when I was in a city under siege.^(AY)
²²In my alarm^(AZ) I said,
    “I am cut off^(BA) from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry^(BB) for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

²³Love the Lord, all his faithful people!^(BC)
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,^(BD)
    but the proud he pays back^(BE) in full.
²⁴Be strong and take heart,^(BF)
    all you who hope in the Lord.