⁷ So David persuaded his men with these words ^(A)and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

²⁴ Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.”

²¹ Then Saul said, ^(A)“I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand ^(A)against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?” ¹⁰ And David said, ^(B)“As the Lord lives, ^(C)the Lord will strike him, or ^(D)his day will come to die, ^(E)or he will go down into battle and perish. ^11 (F)The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is ^(G)at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” ¹² So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because ^(H)a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

¹³ Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. ¹⁴ And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” ¹⁵ And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. ¹⁶ This thing that you have done is not good. ^(I)As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was ^(J)at his head.”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David's voice and said, ^(K)“Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.”