וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ came bôʾ הַזִּפִים֙ And the Ziphites zîpî אֶל unto ʾēl שָׁא֔וּל Saul šāʾûl הַגִּבְעָ֖תָה to Gibeah, gibʿâ לֵאמֹ֑ר saying, ʾāmar הֲל֨וֹא Doth not lōʾ דָוִ֤ד David dāwid מִסְתַּתֵּר֙ hide himself sātar בְּגִבְעַ֣ת in the hill gibʿâ הַֽחֲכִילָ֔ה of Hachilah, ḥăkîlâ עַ֖ל ʿal פְּנֵ֥י before pānîm הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ Jeshimon? yĕšîmôn

וַיָּ֣קָם arose, qûm שָׁא֗וּל Then Saul šāʾûl וַיֵּ֙רֶד֙ and went down yārad אֶל to ʾēl מִדְבַּר the wilderness midbār זִ֔יף of Ziph, zîp וְאִתּ֛וֹ with ʾēt שְׁלֹֽשֶׁת having three šālôš אֲלָפִ֥ים thousand ʾelep אִ֖ישׁ men ʾîš בְּחוּרֵ֣י chosen bāḥar יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל of Israel yiśrāʾēl לְבַקֵּ֥שׁ him, to seek bāqaš אֶת ʾēt דָּוִ֖ד David dāwid בְּמִדְבַּר in the wilderness midbār זִֽיף׃ of Ziph. zîp

וַיִּ֨חַן pitched ḥānâ שָׁא֜וּל And Saul šāʾûl בְּגִבְעַ֣ת in the hill gibʿâ הַֽחֲכִילָ֗ה of Hachilah, ḥăkîlâ אֲשֶׁ֛ר which ʾăšer עַל ʿal פְּנֵ֥י before pānîm הַיְשִׁימֹ֖ן Jeshimon, yĕšîmôn עַל by ʿal הַדָּ֑רֶךְ the way. derek וְדָוִד֙ But David dāwid יֹשֵׁ֣ב abode yāšab בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר in the wilderness, midbār וַיַּ֕רְא and he saw rāʾâ כִּ֣י that kî בָ֥א came bôʾ שָׁא֛וּל Saul šāʾûl אַֽחֲרָ֖יו after ʾaḥar הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ him into the wilderness. midbār

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח therefore sent out šālaḥ דָּוִ֖ד David dāwid מְרַגְּלִ֑ים spies, rāgal וַיֵּ֕דַע and understood yādaʿ כִּי that kî בָ֥א was come in bôʾ שָׁא֖וּל Saul šāʾûl אֶל ʾēl נָכֽוֹן׃ very deed. kûn

וַיָּ֣קָם arose, qûm דָּוִ֗ד And David dāwid וַיָּבֹא֮ and came bôʾ אֶֽל to ʾēl הַמָּקוֹם֮ the place māqôm אֲשֶׁ֣ר where ʾăšer חָֽנָה had pitched: ḥānâ שָׁ֣ם šām שָׁאוּל֒ Saul šāʾûl וַיַּ֣רְא beheld rāʾâ דָּוִ֗ד and David dāwid אֶת ʾēt הַמָּקוֹם֙ the place māqôm אֲשֶׁ֣ר where ʾăšer שָֽׁכַב lay, šākab שָׁ֣ם šām שָׁא֔וּל Saul šāʾûl וְאַבְנֵ֥ר and Abner ʾabnēr בֶּן the son bēn נֵ֖ר of Ner, nēr שַׂר the captain śar צְבָא֑וֹ of his host: ṣābāʾ וְשָׁאוּל֙ and Saul šāʾûl שֹׁכֵ֣ב lay šākab בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל in the trench, maʿgāl וְהָעָ֖ם and the people ʿam חֹנִ֥ים pitched ḥānâ סְבִֽיבֹתָֽו׃ round about him. sābîb

וַיַּ֨עַן Then answered ʿānâ דָּוִ֜ד David dāwid וַיֹּ֣אמֶר׀ and said ʾāmar אֶל to ʾēl אֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ Ahimelech ʾăḥîmelek הַֽחִתִּ֗י the Hittite, ḥittî וְאֶל and to ʾēl אֲבִישַׁ֨י Abishai ʾăbîšay בֶּן the son bēn צְרוּיָ֜ה of Zeruiah, ṣĕrûyâ אֲחִ֤י brother ʾāḥ יוֹאָב֙ to Joab, yôʾāb לֵאמֹ֔ר saying, ʾāmar מִֽי Who mî יֵרֵ֥ד will go down yārad אִתִּ֛י with ʾēt אֶל me to ʾēl שָׁא֖וּל Saul šāʾûl אֶל to ʾēl הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה the camp? maḥăne וַיֹּ֣אמֶר said, ʾāmar אֲבִישַׁ֔י And Abishai ʾăbîšay אֲנִ֖י I ʾănî אֵרֵ֥ד will go down yārad עִמָּֽךְ׃ with thee. ʿim

וַיָּבֹא֩ came bôʾ דָוִ֨ד So David dāwid וַֽאֲבִישַׁ֥י׀ and Abishai ʾăbîšay אֶל to ʾēl הָעָם֮ the people ʿam לַיְלָה֒ by night: layil וְהִנֵּ֣ה and, behold, hinnē שָׁא֗וּל Saul šāʾûl שֹׁכֵ֤ב lay šākab יָשֵׁן֙ sleeping yāšēn בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל within the trench, maʿgāl וַֽחֲנִית֥וֹ and his spear ḥănît מְעוּכָֽה stuck māʿak בָאָ֖רֶץ in the ground ʾereṣ מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑ו at his bolster: mĕraʾăšâ וְאַבְנֵ֣ר but Abner ʾabnēr וְהָעָ֔ם and the people ʿam שֹֽׁכְבִ֖ים lay šākab סְבִֽיבֹתָֽו׃ round about him. sābîb

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר Then said ʾāmar אֲבִישַׁי֙ Abishai ʾăbîšay אֶל to ʾēl דָּוִ֔ד David, dāwid סִגַּ֨ר hath delivered sāgar אֱלֹהִ֥ים God ʾĕlōhîm הַיּ֛וֹם this day: yôm אֶת ʾēt אֽוֹיִבְךָ֖ thine enemy ʾōyēb בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ into thine hand yād וְעַתָּה֩ now ʿattâ אַכֶּ֨נּוּ therefore let me smite nākâ נָ֜א him, I pray thee, nāʾ בַּֽחֲנִ֤ית with the spear ḥănît וּבָאָ֙רֶץ֙ even to the earth ʾereṣ פַּ֣עַם at once, paʿam אַחַ֔ת ʾeḥād וְלֹ֥א and I will not lōʾ אֶשְׁנֶ֖ה him the second time. šānâ לֽוֹ׃

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר said ʾāmar דָּוִ֛ד And David dāwid אֶל to ʾēl אֲבִישַׁ֖י Abishai, ʾăbîšay אַל him not: ʾal תַּשְׁחִיתֵ֑הוּ Destroy šāḥat כִּ֠י for kî מִ֣י who mî שָׁלַ֥ח can stretch forth šālaḥ יָד֛וֹ his hand yād בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ anointed, māšîaḥ יְהוָ֖ה against the Lord's yĕhōwâ וְנִקָּֽה׃ and be guiltless? nāqâ

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said ʾāmar דָּוִד֙ David dāwid חַי liveth, ḥay יְהוָ֔ה the Lord yĕhōwâ כִּ֥י furthermore, kî אִם ʾim יְהוָ֖ה the Lord yĕhōwâ יִגָּפֶ֑נּוּ shall smite nāgap אֽוֹ him; or ʾô יוֹמ֤וֹ his day yôm יָבוֹא֙ shall come bôʾ וָמֵ֔ת to die; mût א֧וֹ or ʾô בַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה into battle, milḥāmâ יֵרֵ֖ד he shall descend yārad וְנִסְפָּֽה׃ and perish. sāpâ

חָלִ֤ילָה forbid ḥālîlâ לִּי֙ מֵֽיהוָ֔ה The Lord yĕhōwâ מִשְּׁלֹ֥חַ that I should stretch forth šālaḥ יָדִ֖י mine hand yād בִּמְשִׁ֣יחַ anointed: māšîaḥ יְהוָ֑ה against the Lord's yĕhōwâ וְ֠עַתָּה thou now ʿattâ קַח take lāqaḥ נָ֨א but, I pray thee, nāʾ אֶֽת ʾēt הַחֲנִ֜ית the spear ḥănît אֲשֶׁ֧ר that ʾăšer מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֛ו at his bolster, mĕraʾăšâ וְאֶת ʾēt צַפַּ֥חַת and the cruse ṣappaḥat הַמַּ֖יִם of water, mayim וְנֵֽלְכָה and let us go. hālak לָּֽנוּ׃

וַיִּקַּח֩ took lāqaḥ דָּוִ֨ד So David dāwid אֶֽת ʾēt הַחֲנִ֜ית the spear ḥănît וְאֶת ʾēt צַפַּ֤חַת and the cruse ṣappaḥat הַמַּ֙יִם֙ of water mayim מֵרַֽאֲשֹׁתֵ֣י bolster; raʾăšōt שָׁא֔וּל from Saul's šāʾûl וַיֵּֽלְכ֖וּ and they gat them away, hālak לָהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֣ין and no ʾayin רֹאֶה֩ man saw rāʾâ וְאֵ֨ין nor ʾayin יוֹדֵ֜עַ knew yādaʿ וְאֵ֣ין neither ʾayin מֵקִ֗יץ awaked: qûṣ כִּ֤י for kî כֻלָּם֙ they all kōl יְשֵׁנִ֔ים asleep; yāšēn כִּ֚י because kî תַּרְדֵּמַ֣ת a deep sleep tardēmâ יְהוָ֔ה from the Lord yĕhōwâ נָֽפְלָ֖ה was fallen nāpal עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ upon them. ʿal

וַיַּֽעֲבֹ֤ר went over ʿābar דָּוִד֙ Then David dāwid הָעֵ֔בֶר to the other side, ʿēber וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֥ד and stood ʿāmad עַל on ʿal רֹאשׁ the top rōš הָהָ֖ר of an hill har מֵֽרָחֹ֑ק afar off; rāḥôq רַ֥ב a great rab הַמָּק֖וֹם space māqôm בֵּֽינֵיהֶֽם׃ between them: bên

וַיִּקְרָ֨א cried qārāʾ דָוִ֜ד And David dāwid אֶל to ʾēl הָעָ֗ם the people, ʿam וְאֶל and to ʾēl אַבְנֵ֤ר Abner ʾabnēr בֶּן the son bēn נֵר֙ of Ner, nēr לֵאמֹ֔ר saying, ʾāmar הֲל֥וֹא thou not, lōʾ תַֽעֲנֶ֖ה Answerest ʿānâ אַבְנֵ֑ר Abner? ʾabnēr וַיַּ֤עַן answered ʿānâ אַבְנֵר֙ Then Abner ʾabnēr וַיֹּ֔אמֶר and said, ʾāmar מִ֥י Who mî אַתָּ֖ה thou ʾattâ קָרָ֥אתָ criest qārāʾ אֶל to ʾēl הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ the king? melek

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ said ʾāmar דָּוִ֨ד And David dāwid אֶל to ʾēl אַבְנֵ֜ר Abner, ʾabnēr הֲלוֹא not lōʾ אִ֣ישׁ a man? ʾîš אַתָּ֗ה thou ʾattâ וּמִ֤י and who mî כָמ֙וֹךָ֙ like to thee kĕmô בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל in Israel? yiśrāʾēl וְלָ֙מָּה֙ wherefore mâ לֹ֣א then hast thou not lōʾ שָׁמַ֔רְתָּ kept šāmar אֶל ʾēl אֲדֹנֶ֖יךָ thy lord ʾādôn הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ the king? melek כִּי for kî בָא֙ there came bôʾ אַחַ֣ד one ʾeḥād הָעָ֔ם of the people ʿam לְהַשְׁחִ֖ית in to destroy šāḥat אֶת ʾēt הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ the king melek אֲדֹנֶֽיךָ׃ thy lord. ʾādôn

לֹא not lōʾ ט֞וֹב good ṭôb הַדָּבָ֣ר thing dābār הַזֶּה֮ This ze אֲשֶׁ֣ר that ʾăšer עָשִׂיתָ֒ thou hast done. ʿāśâ חַי liveth, ḥay יְהוָ֗ה the Lord yĕhōwâ כִּ֤י kî בְנֵי worthy bēn מָ֙וֶת֙ to die, māwet אַתֶּ֔ם ye ʾattâ אֲשֶׁ֧ר because ʾăšer לֹֽא ye have not lōʾ שְׁמַרְתֶּ֛ם kept šāmar עַל ʿal אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶ֖ם your master, ʾādôn עַל ʿal מְשִׁ֣יחַ anointed. māšîaḥ יְהוָ֑ה the Lord's yĕhōwâ וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ And now ʿattâ רְאֵ֗ה see rāʾâ אֵֽי where ʾay חֲנִ֥ית spear ḥănît הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ the king's melek וְאֶת ʾēt צַפַּ֥חַת and the cruse ṣappaḥat הַמַּ֖יִם of water mayim אֲשֶׁ֥ר that ʾăšer מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָֽו׃ at his bolster. mĕraʾăšâ

וַיַּכֵּ֤ר knew nākar שָׁאוּל֙ And Saul šāʾûl אֶת ʾēt ק֣וֹל voice, qôl דָּוִ֔ד David's dāwid וַיֹּ֕אמֶר and said, ʾāmar הֲקֽוֹלְךָ֥ thy voice, qôl זֶ֖ה this ze בְּנִ֣י my son bēn דָוִ֑ד David? dāwid וַיֹּ֣אמֶר said, ʾāmar דָּוִ֔ד And David dāwid קוֹלִ֖י my voice, qôl אֲדֹנִ֥י my lord, ʾādôn הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ O king. melek

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר And he said, ʾāmar לָ֥מָּה Wherefore mâ זֶּ֛ה thus ze אֲדֹנִ֥י doth my lord ʾādôn רֹדֵ֖ף pursue rādap אַֽחֲרֵ֣י after ʾaḥar עַבְדּ֑וֹ his servant? ʿebed כִּ֚י for kî מֶ֣ה what mâ עָשִׂ֔יתִי have I done? ʿāśâ וּמַה or what mâ בְּיָדִ֖י in mine hand? yād רָעָֽה׃ evil raʿ

וְעַתָּ֗ה Now ʿattâ יִֽשְׁמַֽע hear šāmaʿ נָא֙ therefore, I pray thee, nāʾ אֲדֹנִ֣י let my lord ʾādôn הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ the king melek אֵ֖ת ʾēt דִּבְרֵ֣י the words dābār עַבְדּ֑וֹ of his servant. ʿebed אִם If ʾim יְהוָ֞ה the Lord yĕhōwâ הֱסִֽיתְךָ֥ have stirred thee up sût בִי֙ יָרַ֣ח against me, let him accept rûaḥ מִנְחָ֔ה an offering: minḥâ וְאִ֣ם׀ but if ʾim בְּנֵ֣י the children bēn הָֽאָדָ֗ם of men, ʾādām אֲרוּרִ֥ים cursed ʾārar הֵם֙ they hēm לִפְנֵ֣י before pānîm יְהוָ֔ה the Lord; yĕhōwâ כִּֽי for kî גֵרְשׁ֣וּנִי they have driven gāraš הַיּ֗וֹם me out this day yôm מֵֽהִסְתַּפֵּ֜חַ from abiding sāpaḥ בְּנַֽחֲלַ֤ת in the inheritance naḥălâ יְהוָה֙ of the Lord, yĕhōwâ לֵאמֹ֔ר saying, ʾāmar לֵ֥ךְ Go, hālak עֲבֹ֖ד serve ʿābad אֱלֹהִ֥ים gods. ʾĕlōhîm אֲחֵרִֽים׃ other ʾaḥēr

וְעַתָּ֗ה Now ʿattâ אַל therefore, let not ʾal יִפֹּ֤ל fall nāpal דָּמִי֙ my blood dām אַ֔רְצָה to the earth ʾereṣ מִנֶּ֖גֶד before neged פְּנֵ֣י the face pānîm יְהוָ֑ה of the Lord: yĕhōwâ כִּֽי for kî יָצָ֞א is come out yāṣāʾ מֶ֣לֶךְ the king melek יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל of Israel yiśrāʾēl לְבַקֵּשׁ֙ to seek bāqaš אֶת ʾēt פַּרְעֹ֣שׁ a flea, parʿōš אֶחָ֔ד one ʾeḥād כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר as when ʾăšer יִרְדֹּ֥ף doth hunt rādap הַקֹּרֵ֖א a partridge qōrēʾ בֶּֽהָרִֽים׃ in the mountains. har

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ Then said ʾāmar שָׁא֨וּל Saul, šāʾûl חָטָ֜אתִי I have sinned: ḥāṭāʾ שׁ֣וּב return, šûb בְּנִֽי my son bēn דָוִ֗ד David: dāwid כִּ֠י for kî לֹֽא I will no lōʾ אָרַ֤ע do thee harm, rāʿaʿ לְךָ֙ ע֔וֹד more ʿôd תַּ֠חַת because taḥat אֲשֶׁ֨ר ʾăšer יָֽקְרָ֥ה was precious yāqar נַפְשִׁ֛י my soul nepeš בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ in thine eyes ʿayin הַיּ֣וֹם day: yôm הַזֶּ֑ה this ze הִנֵּ֥ה behold, hinnē הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי I have played the fool, sākal וָֽאֶשְׁגֶּ֖ה and have erred šāgâ הַרְבֵּ֥ה exceedingly. rābâ מְאֹֽד׃ mĕʾōd

וַיַּ֤עַן answered ʿānâ דָּוִד֙ And David dāwid וַיֹּ֔אמֶר and said, ʾāmar הִנֵּ֖ה Behold hinnē החֲנִ֣ית spear! ḥănît הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ the king's melek וְיַֽעֲבֹ֛ר come over ʿābar אֶחָ֥ד and let one ʾeḥād מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֖ים of the young men naʿar וְיִקָּחֶֽהָ׃ and fetch it. lāqaḥ

וַֽיהוָה֙ The Lord yĕhōwâ יָשִׁ֣יב render šûb לָאִ֔ישׁ to every man ʾîš אֶת ʾēt צִדְקָת֖וֹ his righteousness ṣĕdāqâ וְאֶת ʾēt אֱמֻֽנָת֑וֹ and his faithfulness: ʾĕmûnâ אֲשֶׁר֩ for ʾăšer נְתָֽנְךָ֙ delivered nātan יְהוָ֤ה׀ the Lord yĕhōwâ הַיּוֹם֙ to day, yôm בְּיָ֔ד thee into hand yād וְלֹ֣א not lōʾ אָבִ֔יתִי but I would ʾābâ לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ stretch forth šālaḥ יָדִ֖י mine hand yād בִּמְשִׁ֥יחַ anointed. māšîaḥ יְהוָֽה׃ against the Lord's yĕhōwâ

וְהִנֵּ֗ה And, behold, hinnē כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר as ʾăšer גָּֽדְלָ֧ה was much set by gādal נַפְשְׁךָ֛ thy life nepeš הַיּ֥וֹם day yôm הַזֶּ֖ה this ze בְּעֵינָ֑י in mine eyes, ʿayin כֵּ֣ן so kēn תִּגְדַּ֤ל be much set by gādal נַפְשִׁי֙ let my life nepeš בְּעֵינֵ֣י in the eyes ʿayin יְהוָ֔ה of the Lord, yĕhōwâ וְיַצִּלֵ֖נִי and let him deliver nāṣal מִכָּל kōl צָרָֽה׃ me out of all tribulation. ṣārâ

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר said ʾāmar שָׁא֜וּל Then Saul šāʾûl אֶל to ʾēl דָּוִ֗ד David, dāwid בָּר֤וּךְ Blessed bārak אַתָּה֙ thou, ʾattâ בְּנִ֣י my son bēn דָוִ֔ד David: dāwid גַּ֚ם thou shalt both gam עָשֹׂ֣ה do ʿāśâ תַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה great ʿāśâ וְגַ֖ם and also gam יָכֹ֣ל shalt still yākōl תּוּכָ֑ל prevail. yākōl וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ went hālak דָּוִד֙ So David dāwid לְדַרְכּ֔וֹ on his way, derek וְשָׁא֖וּל and Saul šāʾûl שָׁ֥ב returned šûb לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ to his place. māqôm