Entonces vinieron los zifeos a Saúl en Guibeá, diciendo: ¿No está David escondido en la colina de Haquila^a, que está frente a Jesimón¹? 2 Se levantó, pues, Saúl y descendió al desierto de Zif, teniendo consigo tres mil hombres escogidos de Israel, para buscar a David en el desierto de Zif^a. 3 Y acampó Saúl en la colina de Haquila, que está frente a Jesimón¹, junto al camino, y David permanecía en el desierto^a. Cuando vio que Saúl venía tras él al desierto^b, 4 David envió espías, y supo que Saúl en verdad se acercaba. 5 Se levantó David y vino al lugar donde Saúl había acampado. Y vio David el lugar donde estaban acostados Saúl y Abner, hijo de Ner^a, el comandante de su ejército; Saúl dormía en medio del campamento y el pueblo estaba acampado alrededor de él.

6 Entonces habló¹ David a² Ahimelec hitita^a y a Abisai, hijo de Sarvia^b, hermano de Joab, diciendo: ¿Quién descenderá conmigo a donde está Saúl en el campamento^c? Y Abisai dijo: Yo descenderé contigo. 7 Y David y Abisai llegaron de noche al campamento¹, y he aquí, Saúl estaba durmiendo en medio del campamento, con su lanza clavada en tierra a su cabecera; y Abner y la gente estaban acostados alrededor de él. 8 Entonces Abisai dijo a David: Hoy Dios ha entregado a tu enemigo en tu mano; ahora pues, déjame clavarlo a¹ la tierra de un solo golpe; no tendré que darle por segunda vez. 9 Pero David dijo a Abisai: No lo mates, pues, ¿quién puede extender su mano contra el ungido del SEÑOR y quedar impune^a? 10 Dijo también David: Vive el SEÑOR, que ciertamente el SEÑOR lo herirá^a, o llegará el día en que muera^b, o descenderá a la batalla y perecerá^c. 11 No permita el SEÑOR que yo extienda mi mano contra el ungido del SEÑOR; pero ahora, te ruego, toma la lanza que está a su cabecera y la vasija de agua, y vámonos^a. 12 Tomó, pues, David la lanza y la vasija de agua de junto a la cabecera de Saúl, y se fueron; pero nadie lo vio ni lo supo, tampoco nadie se despertó, pues todos estaban dormidos, ya que un sueño profundo de parte del SEÑOR había caído sobre ellos^a.

13 David pasó al otro lado y se colocó en la cima del monte a cierta distancia, con un gran espacio entre ellos. 14 Y David dio voces al pueblo y a Abner, hijo de Ner, diciendo: ¿No responderás, Abner? Entonces respondió Abner y dijo: ¿Quién eres tú que llamas al rey? 15 Y David dijo a Abner: ¿No eres tú un hombre? ¿Quién es como tú en Israel? ¿Por qué, pues, no has protegido a tu señor el rey? Porque uno del pueblo vino para matar a tu señor el rey. 16 Esto que has hecho no es bueno. Vive el SEÑOR, todos vosotros ciertamente deberíais morir^1a, porque no protegisteis a vuestro señor, el ungido del SEÑOR. Y ahora, mira dónde está la lanza del rey y la vasija de agua que estaba a su cabecera.

17 Entonces Saúl reconoció la voz de David y dijo: ¿Esesta tu voz, David, hijo mío^a? Y David respondió: Mi voz es, mi señor el rey. 18 También dijo: ¿Por qué persigue mi señor a su siervo? ¿Pues qué he hecho? ¿Qué maldad hay en mi mano^a? 19 Ahora pues, ruego a mi señor el rey que escuche las palabras de su siervo. Si el SEÑOR te ha incitado contra mí^a, que Él acepte¹ una ofrenda^b, pero si son hombres², malditos sean delante del SEÑOR^c, porque me han expulsado hoy para que yo no tenga parte en la heredad del SEÑOR, diciendo: «Ve, sirve a otros dioses^d». 20 Ahora pues, no caiga mi sangre a tierra, lejos de la presencia del SEÑOR; porque el rey de Israel ha salido en busca de una pulga^a, como quien va a la caza de una perdiz en los montes.

21 Y Saúl dijo: He pecado^a. Vuelve, David, hijo mío, porque no volveré a hacerte daño pues mi vida fue muy estimada en tus ojos hoy. He aquí, he actuado neciamente y he cometido un grave error. 22 Respondió David, y dijo: He aquí la lanza del rey. Que pase acá uno de los jóvenes y la recoja. 23 El SEÑOR pagará a cada uno según su justicia y su fidelidad^a; pues el SEÑOR te entregó hoy en mi mano, pero yo no quise extender mi mano contra el ungido del SEÑOR^b. 24 He aquí, como tu vida fue preciosa ante mis ojos hoy^a, así sea preciosa mi vida ante los ojos del SEÑOR, y que Él me libre de toda aflicción^b. 25 Y Saúl dijo a David: Bendito seas, David, hijo mío; ciertamente harás grandes cosas y prevalecerás^a. David siguió por su camino y Saúl se volvió a su lugar^b.

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “^aIs David not keeping himself hidden on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite ¹Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, ¹taking with him ^athree thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite ¹Jeshimon, ^abeside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When ^bhe saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and he learned that Saul was definitely coming. 5 David then set out and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and ^aAbner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech ^athe Hittite and to ^bAbishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who ^cwill go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you; now then, please let me ¹pin him with the spear to the ground with one thrust, and I will not ²do it to him a second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not ¹kill him, for ^awho can reach out with his hand against the LORD’S anointed and remain innocent?” 10 David also said, “As the LORD lives, ^athe LORD certainly will strike him, or ^bhis day will come that he dies, or ^che will go down in battle and ¹perish. 11 ^aThe LORD forbid that I would reach out with my hand against the LORD’S anointed! But now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let’s go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water that were at Saul’s head, and they left; and no one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone awaken, for they were all asleep, because ^aa deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 And David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls 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 to ¹kill the king your lord! 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you undoubtedly ^1amust die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head!”

17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “^aIs this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “^aWhy then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now then, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If ^athe LORD has incited you against me, ^bmay He ¹accept an offering; but ^cif it is ²people, cursed ³are they before the LORD, because ^dthey have driven me out today so that I would have no share in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for ^aa single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “^aI have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake.” 22 David replied, “Behold, the spear of the king! Now have one of the young men come over and take it. 23 And ^athe LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD handed you over to me today, but ^bI refused to reach out with my hand against the LORD’S anointed. 24 Therefore behold, just as your life was ^ahighly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He ^brescue me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “^aBlessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.” So ^bDavid went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “^aIs not David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before ¹Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having with him ^athree thousand chosen men of Israel, to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 Saul camped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before ¹Jeshimon, ^abeside the road, and David was staying in the wilderness. When ^bhe saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies, and he knew that Saul was definitely coming. 5 David then arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and ^aAbner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; and Saul was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people were camped around him.

6 Then David said to Ahimelech ^athe Hittite and to ^bAbishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, saying, “Who ^cwill go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul lay sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people were lying around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the spear ¹to the ground with one stroke, and I will not ²strike him the second time.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for ^awho can stretch out his hand against the LORD’S anointed and be without guilt?” 10 David also said, “As the LORD lives, ^asurely the LORD will strike him, or ^bhis day will come that he dies, or ^che will go down into battle and perish. 11 ^aThe LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’S anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Saul’s head, and they went away, but no one saw or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because ^aa sound sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.

13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance with a large area between them. 14 David called to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner replied, “Who are you who calls 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 to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you ^1amust surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.”

17 Then Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “^aIs this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord the king.” 18 He also said, “^aWhy then is my lord pursuing his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19 Now therefore, please let my lord the king listen to the words of his servant. If ^athe LORD has stirred you up against me, ^blet Him ¹accept an offering; but ^cif it is ²men, cursed are they before the LORD, for ^dthey have driven me out today so that I would have no attachment with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now then, do not let my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to search for ^aa single flea, just as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

21 Then Saul said, “^aI have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.” 22 David replied, “Behold the spear of the king! Now let one of the young men come over and take it. 23 ^aThe LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but ^bI refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD’S anointed. 24 Now behold, as your life was ^ahighly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He ^bdeliver me from all distress.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “^aBlessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So ^bDavid went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.