1 Samuel 26:13-20

New English Translation

¹³ Then David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the hill some distance away; there was a considerable distance between them. ¹⁴ David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer, Abner?” Abner replied, “Who are you, that you have called to the king?” ¹⁵ David said to Abner, “Aren’t you a man? After all, who is like you in Israel? Why then haven’t you protected your lord the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king. ¹⁶ This failure on your part isn’t good!^[a] As surely as the Lord lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the Lord’s chosen one, are as good as dead!^[b] Now look where the king’s spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!”

¹⁷ When Saul recognized David’s voice, he said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” David replied, “Yes, it’s my voice, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ He went on to say, “Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?^{[c] 19} So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the Lord has incited you against me, may he take delight in^[d] an offering. But if men have instigated this,^[e] may they be cursed before the Lord! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the Lord’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go on, serve other gods!’ ²⁰ Now don’t let my blood fall to the ground away from the Lord’s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge^[f] in the hill country.”