⁷ That night, David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the troops were lying around him. ⁸ Then Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me thrust the spear through him into the ground just once. I won’t have to strike him twice!”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him, for who can lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed and be blameless?”^{(A) 10} David 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. ¹¹ However, because of the Lord, 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.”

²² David answered, “Here is the king’s spear; have one of the young men come over and get it. ²³ May the Lord repay every man for his righteousness^(A) 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.^{(B) 24} Just as I considered your life valuable today, so may the Lord consider my life valuable^(C) and rescue me from all trouble.”^(D)

²⁵ Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.”^(E) Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.^(F)