⁷ With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver^(A) me from all trouble.”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned.^(A) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious^(B) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

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.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.^(F)

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice,^(G) David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.”