1And the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding himself in the hill of Hachilah, on the edge of the desert?" 2And Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him. 3And Saul pitched on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the edge of the desert, by the highway. Now David was staying in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness. 4And David sent out spies and knew that Saul had come indeed. 5Then David arose and came to the place where Saul had pitched. And David saw the place where Saul lay. And Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his army, and Saul were lying within the barricade. And the people pitched all around him.

6And 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 the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you." 7So David and Abishai came to the people by night. And behold, Saul lay sleeping in the tent, and his spear stuck in the ground at his head. But Abner and the people lay around him. 8And Abishai said to David, "God has shut up your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me strike him with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time." 9And David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed and be guiltless?" 10And David said, "As the LORD lives, except the LORD strike him, or his day shall come and he dies, or he goes down to battle and is consumed, 11Far be it from me by the LORD, from putting forth my hand against the LORD'S anointed. And now, please take the spear at his head and the cruse of water, and we will go." 12And David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's head. And they went away, and no one saw, and no one knew, and no one was awake; for all of them were sleeping because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

13And David went over to the other side and stood on the top of a hill afar off, a great space between them. 14And David cried to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Do you not answer, Abner?" And Abner answered and said, "Who are you that cries to the king?" 15And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? But why have you not watched over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king. 16This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives because you have not watched over your master, the LORD'S anointed, you also are worthy to die. 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 this way? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hand? 19And now, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept an offering. But if it is the sons of men, they are cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out today from joining myself with the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods. ' 20And now, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

21And Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will never do you harm any more because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have greatly erred." 22And David answered and said, "Behold the king's spear! And let one of the young men come over and get it. 23May the LORD repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the LORD'S anointed. 24And behold, as your life was precious in my eyes this day, so let my life be precious in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulation." 25And Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David. You shall both do great things and also shall still prevail." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.