Then they broughtthe headof Ish-boshethto Davidat Hebronand saidto the king,"Behold,the headof Ish-bosheththe sonof Saul,your enemy,whosoughtyour life;thus the LORDhas givenmy lordthe kingvengeancethisdayon Sauland his descendants."
Then Ahimaazthe sonof Zadoksaid,"Pleaselet me runand bringthe kingnewsthat the LORDhas freedhim from the handof his enemies."
Behold,the Cushitearrived,and the Cushitesaid,"Let my lordthe kingreceivegood news,for the LORDhas freedyou this dayfrom the handof allthose who roseup againstyou."
But Abnerthe sonof Ner,commanderof Saul'sarmy,had takenIsh-bosheththe sonof Sauland broughthim overto Mahanaim.
The Godwho executesvengeancefor me, And bringsdownpeoplesunderme,
My tonguealsowill utterYour righteousnessalldaylong; For they are ashamed,for they are humiliatedwho seekmy hurt.
"Getup, takethe Childand His mother,and gointo the landof Israel;for thosewho soughtthe Child'slifeare dead."
"Rejoiceoverher, O heaven,and you saintsand apostlesand prophets,becauseGodhas pronouncedjudgmentfor you againsther."
and they criedout with a loudvoice,saying,"How long,O Lord,holyand true,will You refrainfrom judgingand avengingour bloodon thosewho dwellon the earth?"
Saulhurledthe spearfor he thought,"I will pinDavidto the wall."But Davidescapedfrom his presencetwice.
Now SaultoldJonathanhis sonand allhis servantsto putDavidto death.But Jonathan,Saul'sson,greatlydelightedin David.
Then Saulsentmessengersto seeDavid,saying,"Bringhim up to me on his bed,that I may puthim to death."
Then Davidfledfrom Naiothin Ramah,and cameand saidto Jonathan,"Whathave I done?Whatis my iniquity?And whatis my sinbeforeyour father,that he is seekingmy life?"
Now Davidbecameawarethat Saulhad comeout to seekhis lifewhile Davidwas in the wildernessof Ziphat Horesh.
The menof Davidsaidto him, "Behold,[this is] the dayof whichthe LORDsaidto you, 'Behold;I am about to giveyour enemyinto your hand,and you shall doto him as it seemsgoodto you.'" Then Davidaroseand cutoffthe edgeof Saul'srobesecretly.
"Should anyoneriseup to pursueyou and to seekyour life,then the lifeof my lordshall be boundin the bundleof the livingwith the LORDyour God;but the livesof your enemiesHe will slingout as from the hollowof a sling.