1 Samuel 26:10–23

¹⁰And David said, ^d“As the Lord lives, ^ethe Lord will strike him, or ^fhis day will come to die, ^gor he will go down into battle and perish. ^11hThe Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is ⁱat 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. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because ^ja deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

¹³Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. ¹⁴And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” ¹⁵And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? 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 that you have done is not good. ^kAs the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was ^lat his head.”

¹⁷Saul recognized David’s voice and said, ^m“Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” ¹⁸And he said, ⁿ“Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? ¹⁹Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, ^ofor they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in ^pthe heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek ^qa single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.”

²¹Then Saul said, ^r“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 acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” ²²And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. ^23sThe Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.