1 The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding on the hill of Hachilah, facing Jeshimon, is he not?"
2 Saul set out and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand picked men of Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.
3 Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, facing Jeshimon, beside the road. David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness.
4 David sent out scouts and found out for certain that Saul had come.
5 David set out and came to the place where Saul was encamped. David saw where Saul lay, and Abner son of Ner, his army commander. Saul was lying inside the ring of the camp, with the troops encamped around him.
6 David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother: "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" Abishai said, "I will go down with you."
7 So David and Abishai came to the troops by night, and there was Saul lying asleep inside the ring of the camp, his spear stuck in the ground by his head, with Abner and the troops lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Now let me pin him to the ground with the spear, just one thrust; I will not need a second."
9 But David told Abishai, "Do not destroy him! Who can lift his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?"
10 David went on, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.
11 The LORD keep me from lifting my hand against the LORD's anointed! Now take the spear by his head and the water jug, and let us go."
12 David took the spear and the water jug from by Saul's head, and they went off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all sleeping, for a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.
13 David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some way off, with a great distance between them.
14 David called out to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, "Abner, will you not answer?" Abner answered, "Who are you, calling to the king?"
15 David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is your equal in Israel? Why then did you not keep watch over your lord the king? One of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.
16 What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, all of you, for not keeping watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. Now look around: where is the king's spear, and the water jug that was by his head?"
17 Saul knew David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" David said, "It is my voice, my lord the king."
18 He went on, "Why is my lord chasing after his servant? What have I done? What wrong is in my hand?
19 So now, let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is men, a curse on them before the LORD, for they have driven me out today from belonging to the LORD's inheritance, as if to say, 'Go and serve other gods.'
20 So now, do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the LORD's presence; for the king of Israel has come out to look for a single flea, like someone hunting a partridge in the hills."
21 Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David; I will not harm you again, since my life was precious in your sight today. I have been a fool and have gone very far astray."
22 David answered, "Here is the king's spear! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
23 The LORD pays every man back for his righteousness and his faithfulness. Today the LORD handed you over to me, but I would not lift my hand against the LORD's anointed.
24 As your life counted for much in my sight today, so may my life count for much in the LORD's sight, and may he rescue me from every trouble."
25 Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David! You will do great things and will surely succeed." David went on his way, and Saul went back home.