¶ And the Ziphites¹ came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not² David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?

Then Saul arose³, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand⁴ chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah⁵, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

⁶David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner⁷ the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench⁸, and the people pitched round about him.

¶ Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite⁹, and to Abishai¹⁰ the son of Zeruiah¹¹, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go¹² down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping¹³ within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

Then said Abishai to David, God¹⁴ hath delivered¹⁵ thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time¹⁶.

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch¹⁷ forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

¶ David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth¹⁸, the LORD shall smite him; or his day¹⁹ shall come to die; or he shall descend²⁰ into battle, and perish.

The LORD forbid that I should²¹ stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

So David²² took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep²³ from the LORD was fallen upon them.

¶ Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top²⁴ of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came²⁵ one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die²⁶, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S²⁷ anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy²⁸ voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.

And he said, Wherefore²⁹ doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I³⁰ done? or what evil is in mine hand?

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord³¹ the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred³² thee up against me, let him accept³³ an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed³⁴ be they before the LORD; for they have driven³⁵ me out this day from abiding³⁶ in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

¶ Now therefore, let not my³⁷ blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king³⁸ of Israel is come out to seek a flea³⁹, as when one doth hunt a partridge⁴⁰ in the mountains.

¶ Then said Saul, I have sinned⁴¹: return, my son David: for I will no⁴² more do thee harm, because my soul⁴³ was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

The LORD render⁴⁴ to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not⁴⁵ stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.

And, behold, as thy life⁴⁶ was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver⁴⁷ me out of all tribulation.

Then Saul said to David, Blessed⁴⁸ be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail⁴⁹. So David⁵⁰ went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.