1 Samuel 26:10–23

¹⁰David added, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will certainly strike him down:^b either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹However, as the Lord, is my witness, I will never lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed.^c Instead, take the spear and the water jug by his head, and let’s go.”

¹²So David took the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head, and they went their way. No one saw them, no one knew, and no one woke up; they all remained asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord^d came over them. ¹³David crossed to the other side and stood on top of the mountain at a distance; there was a considerable space between them. ¹⁴Then David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer, Abner?”

“Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner asked.

¹⁵David called to Abner, “You’re a man, aren’t you? Who in Israel is your equal? So why didn’t you protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? ¹⁶What you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, all of you deserve to die^A since you didn’t protect your lord, the Lord’s anointed.^e Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

¹⁷Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?”^f

“It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said. ¹⁸Then he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What crime have I committed?^{g 19}Now, may my lord the king please hear the words of his servant: If it is the Lord who has incited you against me,^h then may he accept an offering.ⁱ But if it is people,^j may they be cursed in the presence of the Lord, for today they have banished me from sharing in the inheritance of the Lord, saying,^k ‘Go and worship other gods.’ ²⁰So don’t let my blood fall to the ground far from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has come out to search for a single flea,^l like one who pursues a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹Saul responded, “I have sinned.^m Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”

²²David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. ²³The Lord will repay every man for his righteousnessⁿ and his loyalty. I wasn’t willing to lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed, even though the Lord handed you over to me today.^o