1The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is David not hiding in Gibeath Hachilah on the face of the Jeshimon?"2Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.3Saul camped in Gibeath Hachilah, which is on the face of the Jeshimon beside the way, while David was dwelling in the wilderness. And he saw that Saul had come after him into the wilderness.4David sent spies and learned that Saul had come to prepare.5David arose and came to the place where Saul had camped. David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army; Saul was lying in the track, and the people were camped around him.6David spoke to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" Abishai answered, "I will go down with you."7David and Abishai came to the people by night. And behold, Saul was lying asleep in the track, his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the people lay around him.8Abishai said to David, "God has delivered your enemy into your hand today. Now let me strike him with the spear into the ground with one blow, and I will not need to strike him again."9David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed and remain guiltless?"10David continued, "As the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him, or his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and perish."11"Far be it from me before the LORD to stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. Now take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go."12David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head and they departed. No one saw, no one knew, and no one awoke, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them all.13David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain at a great distance, with the camp between them.14David called to the people and to Abner son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Abner answered, "Who are you that calls to the king?"15David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not guarded your lord the king? One of the people came to destroy the king your lord."16"This thing you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve death because you did not guard your lord, the LORD's anointed. Now look and see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head."17Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" David replied, "It is my voice, my lord the king."18David said, "Why does my lord pursue his servant? What have I done, and what wrong is in my hand?"19"Now let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if men have cursed me before the LORD, they have driven me out today from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'"20"Therefore let not my blood fall to the ground away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."21Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no longer harm you, because you valued my life today. See, I have acted foolishly and have erred greatly."22David answered, "Here is the king's spear. Let one of the young men come over and take it."23"The LORD will repay each man according to his righteousness and his faithfulness, which the LORD gave into your hand today. I was unwilling to stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed."24"Just as you valued my life highly today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from every trouble."25Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, my son David. You will surely act and you will surely succeed." Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.