¹⁰As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike^r him, or his time^s will come and he will die,^t or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹²So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.^u

¹³Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

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

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong^w am I guilty of? ¹⁹Now let my lord the king listen^x to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering.^y If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance^z and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’^a ²⁰Now do not let my blood^b fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea^c—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.^d”

²¹Then Saul said, “I have sinned.^e Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious^f today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²²“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³The Lord rewards^g everyone for their righteousness^h and faithfulness. The Lord deliveredⁱ you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

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Cross references

rSee Ge 16:5; See 1 Sa 25:38; See Ro 12:19
s Dt 31:14; Ps 37:13
t 1 Sa 31:6; 2 Sa 1:1
uSee Jdg 4:21
v 1 Sa 24:16
w Job 13:23; Jer 37:18
x 1 Sa 24:9
y 2 Sa 16:11
z Dt 20:16; 32:9; 2 Sa 14:16; 20:19; 21:3
aSee Dt 4:28; See 11:28
bSee 1 Sa 24:11
c 1 Sa 24:14
d Jer 4:29; 16:16; Am 9:3
eSee Ex 9:27
f Ps 72:14
gSee Ge 16:5; See Ru 2:12; Ps 62:12
h 2 Sa 22:21, 25; Ps 7:8; 18:20, 24
i 1 Sa 24:18