King James Version

1 And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Isn't David hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is before the Jeshimon?" 2 And Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him were three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul camped at Gibeah of the Hachilah, which is on the face of the Jeshimon on the way, and David was living in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness. 4 And David sent spies, and he knew that Saul had come to Naon. 5 And David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped, and David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army, and Saul lay in the encampment, and the people were encamped around him. 6 And David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7 And David and Abishai came to the people by night, and behold, Saul was sleeping in the encampment, and his spear was stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the people were sleeping around him. 8 And Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand today, and now, let me strike him with a spear to the ground at once, and I will not strike him a second time." 9 And David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the anointed of the Lord and remain guiltless?" 10 And David said, "As the Lord lives, if the Lord does not deliver us, either today or tomorrow, we will die in battle or be lost." 11 Far be it from me to act against the LORD by ceasing my hand against the anointed of the LORD. And now please take the spear that is at your head and the jar of water, and let us go. 12 And David took the spear and the jug of water from Saul's head, and they went away, and no one saw, and no one knew, and no one woke up, for they were all sleeping because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them. 13 And David crossed over and stood on the top of the mountain from afar, a great distance between them. 14 And David called to the people and to Abner son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" And Abner answered and said, "Who are you that you called to the king?" 15 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 to destroy the king, your lord." 16 It is not good, this thing that you have done; as the Lord lives, you are sons of death because you have not kept the command of your lord concerning the anointed of the Lord. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head. 17 And Saul recognized the voice of David and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king." 18 And he said, "Why is this, my lord, pursuing after your servant? For what have I done, and what evil is in my hand?" 19 And now let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the Lord has stirred you against me, let there be an offering, and if the children of men are cursed before the Lord because they have driven me away today from being joined to the heritage of the Lord, saying, "Go, serve other gods." 20 And now let not my blood fall to the ground before the Lord, for the king of Israel has gone out to seek one partridge, as one chases a mountain bird. 21 And Saul said, "I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will no longer do you harm, because your life is precious in my eyes today. Behold, I have acted foolishly and have erred greatly." 22 And David answered and said, "Here is the king's spear, and let one of the young men go over and take it." 23 And the Lord will restore to the man his righteousness and his faithfulness which the Lord has given you today into your hand, and I have not been willing to stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed. 24 And behold, as your soul is magnified today in my eyes, so may my soul be magnified in the eyes of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all trouble. 25 And Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, son of David; you will surely do it, and you will surely be able." And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.