1The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces the Jeshimon?"2Saul arose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.3And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the face of the Wilderness on the Way, and David sat in the Wilderness, and he saw that Saul had come after him into the Wilderness.4David sent out spies and learned that Saul had come to the Nakon.5And David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, ruler of his host, were lying, and Saul was lying in the circle, and the people were encamping around him.6And David answered and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you."7David and Abishai came to the people at night, and there Saul was lying asleep in the circle, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the people lying around him.8And Abishai said to David, "God has shut up your enemy in your hand today. And now, please let us strike him with the spear into the earth one time, and I will not repeat it to him."9David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who extended his hand against the anointed of the LORD and was guiltless?"10And David said, "As the LORD lives, for if the LORD strikes him or his day comes and he dies or he goes down in warfare and perishes."11Far be it from me before the LORD to stretch out my hand against the anointed of the LORD. And now, please take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.12David took the spear and the cruse of water from beside Saul's head, and they went away. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up, for they were all asleep because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them.13And he crossed over the ridge and stood on the top of the mountain, with a great distance between them and the place.14David called to the people and to Abner son of Ner, "Will you not answer, Abner?" And Abner answered and said, "Who are you who called to the king?"15And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? And who is like you in Israel? And why did you not guard your lord the king? For one of the people came to destroy the king your lord."16"This is not good, what you have done. As the LORD lives, you deserve death, for you have not kept watch over your lord, over the anointed of the LORD. And now, see! Where are the king's spear and the jar of water that were at his head?"17And Saul recognized the voice of David and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "My voice, my lord the king."18And he said, "Why is this, my lords, that you pursue after your servant? For what have I done, and what moral evil is in my hand?"19And now please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, let him smell a grain offering. But if it is men, they are cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me away today from attaching myself to the inheritance of the LORD, saying to you, 'Serve other gods.'"20And now let not my blood fall to the ground away from the face of the LORD, for the king of Israel has gone out to seek one partridge, just as he pursues the partridge in the mountains.21And he said, "Saul: 'I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you any longer because my life has been precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and I have erred greatly.'"22And David answered, "Here is the king's spear. One of the servants can cross over and take it."23And the LORD will return to the man his righteousness and his faithfulness, which the LORD has given you into your hand today, and I did not stretch out my hand against the anointed of the LORD.24And look, just as your life was precious to me today, so may my life be precious to the LORD, and may he deliver me from every distress.25And Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David; you will surely do, and you will surely be able to." And he went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.