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The Blue Letter Bible

1 Samuel 26 :: New International Version (NIV)

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David Again Spares Saul’s Life

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:1

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:1 - The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:2

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:2 - So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:3

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:3 - Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there,

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:4

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:4 - he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:5

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:5 - Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:6

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:6 - David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?” “I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:7

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:7 - So 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:8

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:8 - Abishai 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:9

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:9 - But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:10

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:10 - As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “the LORD himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:11

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:11 - But 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.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:12

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:12 - So 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:13

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:13 - Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:14

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:14 - He 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?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:15

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:15 - David 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.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:16

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:16 - What 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?”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:17

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:17 - Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?” David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:18

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:18 - And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of?

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:19

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:19 - Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. 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 and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:20

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:20 - Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:21

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:21 - Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:22

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:22 - “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:23

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:23 - The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed.

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:24

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:24 - As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”

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Unchecked Copy Box 1Sa 26:25

Unchecked Copy Box1Sa 26:25 - Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NIV

HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


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For more information on this translation, see the NIV Preface.

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1 Samuel Chapter 26 — Additional Translations:

King James Version New King James Version New Living Translation English Standard Version Christian Standard Bible New American Standard Bible 2020 New American Standard Bible 1995 Legacy Standard Bible Amplified Bible New English Translation Revised Standard Version American Standard Version Young's Literal Translation Darby Translation Webster's Bible Hebrew Names Version Latin Vulgate Westminster Leningrad Codex Septuagint Smith Van Dyck Arabic Bible Open New Arabic Version Brenton's English Septuagint Reina Valera 1909 Reina-Valera 1960 Bible in Basic English Chinese Traditional Union Espanol Moderno Korean Holy Bible Louis Segond German Luther Russian Synodal Translation Sagradas Escrituras