1	And the Ziphites came# unto Saul to Gibeah, saying# , Doth not David hide# himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?
			2	Then Saul arose# , and went down# to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen# men of Israel with him, to seek# David in the wilderness of Ziph.
			3	And Saul pitched# in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode# in the wilderness, and he saw# that Saul came# after him into the wilderness.
			4	David therefore sent out# spies# , and understood# that Saul was come# in very deed# .
			5	And David arose# , and came# to the place where Saul had pitched# : and David beheld# the place where Saul lay# , and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay# in the trench, and the people pitched# round about him. [trench: or, midst of his carriages]
			6	Then answered# David and said# to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying# , Who will go down# with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said# , I will go down# with thee.
			7	So David and Abishai came# to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay# sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck# in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay# round about him.
			8	Then said# Abishai to David, God hath delivered# thine enemy# into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite# him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once# , and I will not smite him the second time# . [delivered: Heb. shut up]
			9	And David said# to Abishai, Destroy# him not: for who can stretch forth# his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless# ?
			10	David said# furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite# him; or his day shall come# to die# ; or he shall descend# into battle, and perish# .
			11	The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth# mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take# thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go# .
			12	So David took# the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away# , and no man saw# it , nor knew# it , neither awaked# : for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen# upon them.
			13	Then David went over# to the other side, and stood# on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:
			14	And David cried# to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying# , Answerest# thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered# and said# , Who art thou that criest# to the king?
			15	And David said# to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept# thy lord the king? for there came# one of the people in to destroy# the king thy lord.
			16	This thing is not good that thou hast done# . As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept# your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see# where the king's spear is , and the cruse of water that was at his bolster. [worthy to die: Heb. the sons of death]
			17	And Saul knew# David's voice, and said# , Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said# , It is my voice, my lord, O king.
			18	And he said# , Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue# after his servant? for what have I done# ? or what evil is in mine hand?
			19	Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear# the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up# against me, let him accept# an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed# be they before the LORD; for they have driven# me out this day from abiding# in the inheritance of the LORD, saying# , Go# , serve# other gods. [accept: Heb. smell] [abiding: Heb. cleaving]
			20	Now therefore, let not my blood fall# to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out# to seek# a flea, as when one doth hunt# a partridge in the mountains.
			21	Then said# Saul, I have sinned# : return# , my son David: for I will no more do thee harm# , because my soul was precious# in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool# , and have erred# exceedingly# # .
			22	And David answered# and said# , Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over# and fetch# it.
			23	The LORD render# to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered# thee into my hand to day, but I would# not stretch forth# mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.
			24	And, behold, as thy life was much set by# this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by# in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver# me out of all tribulation.
			25	Then Saul said# to David, Blessed# be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do# great# things , and also shalt still# prevail# . So David went# on his way, and Saul returned# to his place.