1And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, Is not David hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert? 2Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3And 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. 4David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul had certainly come. 5And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped all around him. 6Then David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with you. 7So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay all around him. 8Then Abishai said to David, God has delivered up your enemy into your hand this day: now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time. 9And David said to Abishai, Do not destroy him; for who can put out his hand against Yehovah’s anointed, and be guiltless? 10And David said, As Yehovah lives, Yehovah will strike him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. 11Yehovah forbid that I should put out my hand against Yehovah’s anointed: but now please take the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go. 12So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they went away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yehovah had fallen on them. 13Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain far away; a great space being between them; 14and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Do you not answer, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who are you who cry to the king? 15And David said to Abner, Are you not a valiant man? and who is like you in Israel? why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? for one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16This thing is not good that you have done. As Yehovah lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yehovah’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head. 17And Saul knew David’s voice, and said, Is this your voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king. 18And he said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand? 19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is Yehovah who has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it is the children of men, cursed be they before Yehovah; for they have driven me out this day that I should not cling to the inheritance of Yehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods. 20Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Yehovah: for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains. 21Then Saul said, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred greatly. 22And David answered and said, Behold the spear, O king! let then one of the young men come over and fetch it. 23And Yehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; since Yehovah delivered you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against Yehovah’s anointed. 24And, behold, as your life was highly valued this day in my eyes, so let my life be highly valued in the eyes of Yehovah, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation. 25Then Saul said to David, Blessed are you, my son David: you shall both do mightily, and shall surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.