Why do the nations rage, and the peoples devise a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah and against His anointed, saying,

For they intended evil against You; they devised a plot which they were not able to accomplish.

He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not despise evil.

And those who seek my life lay snares for me; and those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, and devise treachery all day long.

How long will you assail a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a bowing wall and a tottering fence.

They encourage themselves in an evil plan; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, Who shall see them?

They devise injustice; they have finished searching out a plot. Yea, the inward part of man and the heart are unfathomable.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but to counselors of peace there is joy.

For they have prepared their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait. Their baker sleeps all night; in the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

Woe to those who devise wickedness and do evil on their beds! In the morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

Therefore thus says Jehovah: Behold, I am devising evil against this family, from which you shall not remove your necks; nor shall you walk haughtily, for this is an evil time.

One who devises evil against Jehovah has come forth from you, one counseling worthlessness.

They stir up strife; they hide themselves; they watch my steps as they lie in wait for my soul.

I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.

Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding with us in strongholds in the forest, in the hill of Hachilah, which is south of the desert?

And Saul said, Blessed are you of Jehovah, for you have had compassion on me.

See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hides; and come back to me with certainty, and I shall go with you. And it shall be, if he is in the land, that I shall search for him throughout all the thousands of Judah.

Moreover, my father, look! Indeed, see the skirt of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, recognize and consider that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. And yet you are hunting my soul to take it.

Jehovah judge between you and me, and Jehovah avenge me of you. But my hand shall not be against you.

Now the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is David not hiding in the hill of Hachilah, before the desert?

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

And David rose up and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. And Saul was lying within the entrenchment, with the people encamped all around him.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and behold Saul was lying down sleeping within the entrenchment, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people were lying all around him.

And David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the anointed of Jehovah, and be guiltless?

Jehovah forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the anointed of Jehovah. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.

And David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off, with a great distance between them.

And 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 in to destroy your lord the king.

And Saul recognized David's voice, and said, Is that your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If Jehovah has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the sons of men, may they be cursed before Jehovah, for they have driven me out this day from joining in the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.

Then Saul said, I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have acted foolishly and erred exceedingly.

May Jehovah repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for Jehovah has delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the anointed of Jehovah.

Then Saul said to David, May you be blessed, my son David! You shall bring about to do, and shall prevail to accomplish. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.