1 Samuel 26 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק כ״ו

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 26 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיָּבֹאוּand-they-cameהַזִּפִיםthe-Ziphimאֶל־שָׁאוּלto-Saulהַגִּבְעָתָהto-Gibeahלֵאמֹרsayingהֲלוֹאis-it-notדָוִדDavidמִסְתַּתֵּרhiding-himselfבְּגִבְעַתin-the-hill-ofהַחֲכִילָהHachilahעַלuponפְּנֵיface-ofהַיְשִׁימֹן׃Jeshimon

   And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

2. 2

   וַיָּקׇםand-aroseשָׁאוּלSaulוַיֵּרֶדand-he-descendedאֶל־מִדְבַּר־זִיףto-the-wilderness-of-Ziphוְאִתּוֹand-with-himשְׁלֹשֶׁת־אֲלָפִיםthree-of-thousandאִישׁmenבְּחוּרֵיchosen-men-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלְבַקֵּשׁto-seekאֶת־דָּוִדDavidבְּמִדְבַּר־זִיף׃in-the-wilderness-of-Ziph

   Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

3. 3

   וַיִּחַןand-encampedשָׁאוּלSaulבְּגִבְעַתin-the-hill-ofהַחֲכִילָהHachilahאֲשֶׁרwhichעַל־פְּנֵיupon-the-face-ofהַיְשִׁימֹןJeshimonעַל־הַדָּרֶךְby-the-wayוְדָוִדand-Davidיֹשֵׁבabodeבַּמִּדְבָּרin-the-wildernessוַיַּרְאand-sawכִּיthatבָאcameשָׁאוּלSaulאַחֲרָיוafter-himהַמִּדְבָּרָה׃into-the-wilderness

   And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4. 4

   וַיִּשְׁלַחand-sentדָּוִדDavidמְרַגְּלִיםspiesוַיֵּדַעand-knewכִּי־בָאthat-was-comeשָׁאוּלSaulאֶל־נָכוֹן׃of-a-certainty

   David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5. 5

   וַיָּקׇםand-aroseדָּוִדDavidוַיָּבֹאand-cameאֶל־הַמָּקוֹםunto-the-placeאֲשֶׁרwhichחָנָה־שָׁםhad-pitchedשָׁאוּלSaulוַיַּרְאand-sawדָּוִדDavidאֶת־הַמָּקוֹםthe-placeאֲשֶׁרwhichשָׁכַב־שָׁםlayשָׁאוּלSaulוְאַבְנֵרand-Abnerבֶּן־נֵרson-of-Nerשַׂר־צְבָאוֹthe-chief-of-his-armyוְשָׁאוּלand-Saulשֹׁכֵבlyingבַּמַּעְגָּלin-the-trenchוְהָעָםand-the-peopleחֹנִיםpitchedסְבִיבֹתָו׃round-about-him

   And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

6. 6

   וַיַּעַןand-answeredדָּוִדDavidוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֶל־אֲחִימֶלֶךְto-Ahimelechהַחִתִּיthe-Hittiteוְאֶל־אֲבִישַׁיand-Abishaiבֶּן־צְרוּיָהson-of-Zeruiahאֲחִיthe-brother-ofיוֹאָבJoabלֵאמֹרsayingמִי־יֵרֵדwho-will-go-downאִתִּיwith-meאֶל־שָׁאוּלto-Saulאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶהto-the-campוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֲבִישַׁיAbishaiאֲנִיIאֵרֵדwill-go-downעִמָּךְ׃with-you

   Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

7. 7

   וַיָּבֹאand-cameדָוִדDavidוַאֲבִישַׁיand-Abishaiאֶל־הָעָםto-the-peopleלַיְלָהby-nightוְהִנֵּהand-beholdשָׁאוּלSaulשֹׁכֵבlyingיָשֵׁןasleepבַּמַּעְגָּלin-the-trenchוַחֲנִיתוֹand-his-spearמְעוּכָה־בָאָרֶץstuck-in-the-groundמְרַאֲשֹׁתָוat-his-headוְאַבְנֵרand-Abnerוְהָעָםand-the-peopleשֹׁכְבִיםlying-downסְבִיבֹתָו׃round-about-him

   So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidאֲבִישַׁיAbishaiאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidסִגַּרhas-delivered-upאֱלֹהִיםGodהַיּוֹםthis-dayאֶת־אוֹיִבְךָyour-enemyבְּיָדֶךָinto-your-handוְעַתָּהand-nowאַכֶּנּוּlet-me-smite-himנָאI-prayבַּחֲנִיתwith-the-spearוּבָאָרֶץeven-to-the-earthפַּעַםat-one-strokeאַחַתoneוְלֹאand-notאֶשְׁנֶהI-will-do-it-a-second-timeלוֹ׃to-him

   Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9. 9

   וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidאֶל־אֲבִישַׁיto-Abishaiאַל־תַּשְׁחִיתֵהוּdestroy-him-notכִּיforמִיwhoשָׁלַחcan-stretch-forthיָדוֹhis-handבִּמְשִׁיחַagainst-the-anointed-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוְנִקָּה׃and-be-guiltless

   And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidחַי־יְהֹוָהas-the-LORD-livesכִּיbecauseאִם־יְהֹוָהthe-LORDיִגֳּפֶנּוּshall-smite-himאוֹ־יוֹמוֹor-his-dayיָבוֹאshall-comeוָמֵתand-he-shall-dieאוֹorבַמִּלְחָמָהin-the-battleיֵרֵדhe-shall-descendוְנִסְפָּה׃and-perish

    David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11. 11

    חָלִילָהfar-be-itלִּיto-meמֵיְהֹוָהfrom-the-LORDמִשְּׁלֹחַthat-I-should-stretch-forthיָדִיmy-handבִּמְשִׁיחַagainst-the-anointed-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוְעַתָּהand-nowקַח־נָאtake-I-prayאֶת־הַחֲנִיתthe-spearאֲשֶׁרwhichמְרַאֲשֹׁתָוat-his-headוְאֶת־צַפַּחַתand-the-jug-ofהַמַּיִםthe-watersוְנֵלְכָה־לָּנוּ׃and-let-us-go

    The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

12. 12

    וַיִּקַּחand-tookדָּוִדDavidאֶת־הַחֲנִיתthe-spearוְאֶת־צַפַּחַתand-the-jug-ofהַמַּיִםthe-watersמֵרַאֲשֹׁתֵיfrom-beside-the-head-ofשָׁאוּלSaulוַיֵּלְכוּand-they-wentלָהֶםto-themוְאֵיןand-there-is-noרֹאֶהsaw-itוְאֵיןand-there-is-noיוֹדֵעַknew-itוְאֵיןand-there-is-noמֵקִיץawakedכִּיbecauseכֻלָּםall-of-themיְשֵׁנִיםwere-asleepכִּיbecauseתַּרְדֵּמַתdeep-sleep-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDנָפְלָהfellעֲלֵיהֶם׃upon-them

    So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.

13. 13

    וַיַּעֲבֹרthen-passed-overדָּוִדDavidהָעֵבֶרto-the-other-sideוַיַּעֲמֹדand-stoodעַל־רֹאשׁ־הָהָרon-the-top-of-a-hillמֵרָחֹקafar-offרַבa-great-space-beingהַמָּקוֹםthe-placeבֵּינֵיהֶם׃between-them

    Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

14. 14

    וַיִּקְרָאand-calledדָוִדDavidאֶל־הָעָםto-the-peopleוְאֶל־אַבְנֵרand-Abnerבֶּן־נֵרson-of-Nerלֵאמֹרsayingהֲלוֹאis-it-notתַעֲנֶהwill-you-not-answerאַבְנֵרAbnerוַיַּעַןand-he-answeredאַבְנֵרAbnerוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidמִיwhoאַתָּהyouקָרָאתָyou-cryאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ׃unto-the-king

    And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidאֶל־אַבְנֵרto-Abnerהֲלוֹא־אִישׁare-you-not-a-manאַתָּהyouוּמִיand-whosoכָמוֹךָlike-youבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלin-Israelוְלָמָּהand-whyלֹאnotשָׁמַרְתָּhave-you-keptאֶל־אֲדֹנֶיךָyour-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingכִּי־בָאfor-there-cameאַחַדone-ofהָעָםthe-peopleלְהַשְׁחִיתto-destroyאֶת־הַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֲדֹנֶיךָ׃your-master

    And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16. 16

    לֹא־טוֹבthis-is-not-goodהַדָּבָרthe-thingהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichעָשִׂיתָyou-didחַי־יְהֹוָהas-the-LORD-livesכִּיbecauseבְנֵי־מָוֶתyou-are-worthy-to-dieאַתֶּםyou-areאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־שְׁמַרְתֶּםyou-have-not-keptעַל־אֲדֹנֵיכֶםyour-masterעַל־מְשִׁיחַthe-anointed-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוְעַתָּהand-nowרְאֵהseeאֵי־חֲנִיתwhere-is-the-spear-ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוְאֶת־צַפַּחַתand-the-jug-ofהַמַּיִםthe-watersאֲשֶׁרwhichמְרַאֲשֹׁתָו׃at-his-head

    This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

17. 17

    וַיַּכֵּרand-knewשָׁאוּלSaulאֶת־קוֹלthe-voice-ofדָּוִדDavidוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהֲקוֹלְךָis-this-your-voiceזֶהthisבְּנִיmy-sonדָוִדDavidוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidדָּוִדDavidקוֹלִיit-is-my-voiceאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the-king

    And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

18. 18

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidלָמָּהwhyזֶּהdoesאֲדֹנִיmy-lordרֹדֵףpursueאַחֲרֵיafterעַבְדּוֹhis-servantכִּיforמֶהwhat-haveעָשִׂיתִיI-doneוּמַה־בְּיָדִיor-what-is-in-my-handרָעָה׃evil

    And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

19. 19

    וְעַתָּהand-nowיִשְׁמַע־נָאlet-hear-I-pray-youאֲדֹנִיmy-lordהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingאֵת־דִּבְרֵיthe-words-ofעַבְדּוֹhis-servantאִם־יְהֹוָהif-the-LORDהֱסִיתְךָhas-stirred-you-upבִיagainst-meיָרַחlet-Him-smellמִנְחָהan-offeringוְאִםand-ifבְּנֵיthe-sons-ofהָאָדָםthe-manאֲרוּרִיםcursedהֵםtheyלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהֹוָהthe-LORDכִּי־גֵרְשׁוּנִיfor-they-have-driven-me-outהַיּוֹםthis-dayמֵהִסְתַּפֵּחַfrom-abidingבְּנַחֲלַתin-the-inheritance-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDלֵאמֹרsayingלֵךְgoעֲבֹדserveאֱלֹהִים־אֲחֵרִים׃other-gods

    Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

20. 20

    וְעַתָּהand-nowאַל־יִפֹּלlet-not-fallדָּמִיmy-bloodאַרְצָהto-the-earthמִנֶּגֶדbeforeפְּנֵיface-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDכִּי־יָצָאfor-is-come-outמֶלֶךְthe-king-ofיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלְבַקֵּשׁto-seekאֶת־פַּרְעֹשׁa-fleaאֶחָדoneכַּאֲשֶׁרasיִרְדֹּףone-does-huntהַקֹּרֵאa-partridgeבֶּהָרִים׃in-the-mountains

    Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.

21. 21

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁאוּלSaulחָטָאתִיI-have-sinnedשׁוּבreturnבְּנִי־דָוִדmy-son-Davidכִּיbecauseלֹא־אָרַעI-will-no-more-do-you-harmלְךָfor-youעוֹדany-moreתַּחַתunderאֲשֶׁרwhichיָקְרָהwas-preciousנַפְשִׁיmy-lifeבְּעֵינֶיךָin-your-eyesהַיּוֹםthis-dayהַזֶּהthisהִנֵּהbeholdהִסְכַּלְתִּיI-have-played-the-foolוָאֶשְׁגֶּהand-have-erredהַרְבֵּהgreatlyמְאֹד׃exceedingly

    Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22. 22

    וַיַּעַןand-answeredדָּוִדDavidוַיֹּאמֶרand-saidהִנֵּהbehold(החנית)[חֲנִית]the-spearהַמֶּלֶךְthe-kingוְיַעֲבֹרand-let-come-overאֶחָדoneמֵהַנְּעָרִיםof-the-young-menוְיִקָּחֶהָ׃and-fetch-it

    And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

23. 23

    וַיהֹוָהand-the-LORDיָשִׁיבrenderלָאִישׁto-the-manאֶת־צִדְקָתוֹhis-righteousnessוְאֶת־אֱמֻנָתוֹand-his-faithfulnessאֲשֶׁרwhichנְתָנְךָdelivered-youיְהֹוָהthe-LORDהַיּוֹםthis-dayבְּיָדinto-my-handוְלֹאand-notאָבִיתִיI-wouldלִשְׁלֹחַstretch-forthיָדִיmy-handבִּמְשִׁיחַagainst-the-anointed-ofיְהֹוָה׃the-LORD

    The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD's anointed.

24. 24

    וְהִנֵּהand-beholdכַּאֲשֶׁרasגָּדְלָהwas-much-set-byנַפְשְׁךָyour-soulהַיּוֹםthis-dayהַזֶּהthisבְּעֵינָיin-my-eyesכֵּןthusתִּגְדַּלlet-be-much-set-byנַפְשִׁיmy-lifeבְּעֵינֵיin-the-eyes-ofיְהֹוָהthe-LORDוְיַצִּלֵנִיand-let-Him-deliver-meמִכׇּל־צָרָה׃out-of-all-tribulation

    And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

25. 25

    וַיֹּאמֶרand-saidשָׁאוּלSaulאֶל־דָּוִדto-Davidבָּרוּךְblessedאַתָּהyouבְּנִיmy-sonדָוִדDavidגַּםalsoעָשֹׂהsurelyתַעֲשֶׂהyou-shall-doוְגַםand-alsoיָכֹלand-also-shallתּוּכׇלstill-prevailוַיֵּלֶךְand-wentדָּוִדDavidלְדַרְכּוֹto-his-own-wayוְשָׁאוּלand-Saulשָׁבreturnedלִמְקוֹמוֹ׃to-his-place

    Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.