26:1 | Now some messengers from Ziph came back to Saul at Gibeah to tell him, "David is hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which overlooks Jeshimon."

26:2 | So Saul took three thousand of his best troops and went to hunt him down in the wilderness of Ziph.

26:4 | so he sent out spies to watch his movements.

26:10 | Surely the LORD will strike Saul down someday, or he will die in battle or of old age.

26:13 | David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance.

26:14 | Then he shouted down to Abner and Saul, "Wake up, Abner!Who is it?" Abner demanded.

26:18 | Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime?

26:20 | Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the LORD? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?"

26:21 | Then Saul confessed, "I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong."

26:22 | "Here is your spear, O king," David replied. "Let one of your young men come over and get it.

26:24 | Now may the LORD value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles."

26:25 | And Saul said to David, "Blessings on you, my son David. You will do heroic deeds and be a great conqueror." Then David went away, and Saul returned home.