⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed^(A) and be guiltless?^{(B) 10} As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike^(C) him, or his time^(D) will come and he will die,^(E) or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But 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.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards^(A) everyone for their righteousness^(B) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered^(C) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver^(D) me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed,^(E) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.