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 19

New International Version

Psalm 19^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹The heavens^(A) declare^(B) the glory of God;^(C)
    the skies^(D) proclaim the work of his hands.^(E)
²Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.^(F)
³They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
⁴Yet their voice^[b] goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.^(G)
In the heavens God has pitched a tent^(H) for the sun.^(I)
⁵    It is like a bridegroom^(J) coming out of his chamber,^(K)
    like a champion^(L) rejoicing to run his course.
⁶It rises at one end of the heavens^(M)
    and makes its circuit to the other;^(N)
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

⁷The law of the Lord^(O) is perfect,^(P)
    refreshing the soul.^(Q)
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,^(R)
    making wise the simple.^(S)
⁸The precepts of the Lord are right,^(T)
    giving joy^(U) to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.^(V)
⁹The fear of the Lord^(W) is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.^(X)

¹⁰They are more precious than gold,^(Y)
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,^(Z)
    than honey from the honeycomb.^(AA)
¹¹By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.
¹²But who can discern their own errors?
    Forgive my hidden faults.^(AB)
¹³Keep your servant also from willful sins;^(AC)
    may they not rule over me.^(AD)
Then I will be blameless,^(AE)
    innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing^(AF) in your sight,
Lord, my Rock^(AG) and my Redeemer.^(AH)

Footnotes

Psalm 19:1 In Hebrew texts 19:1-14 is numbered 19:2-15.
Psalm 19:4 Septuagint, Jerome and Syriac; Hebrew measuring line

Psalm 92

New International Version

Psalm 92^[a]

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.

¹It is good to praise the Lord
    and make music^(A) to your name,^(B) O Most High,^(C)
²proclaiming your love in the morning^(D)
    and your faithfulness at night,
³to the music of the ten-stringed lyre^(E)
    and the melody of the harp.^(F)

⁴For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
    I sing for joy^(G) at what your hands have done.^(H)
⁵How great are your works,^(I) Lord,
    how profound your thoughts!^(J)
⁶Senseless people^(K) do not know,
    fools do not understand,
⁷that though the wicked spring up like grass
    and all evildoers flourish,
    they will be destroyed forever.^(L)

⁸But you, Lord, are forever exalted.

⁹For surely your enemies^(M), Lord,
    surely your enemies will perish;
    all evildoers will be scattered.^(N)
¹⁰You have exalted my horn^[b]^(O) like that of a wild ox;^(P)
    fine oils^(Q) have been poured on me.
¹¹My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
    my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.^(R)

¹²The righteous will flourish^(S) like a palm tree,
    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;^(T)
¹³planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.^(U)
¹⁴They will still bear fruit^(V) in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,
¹⁵proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
    he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.^(W)”