² So Saul arose and went down to ^(A)the wilderness of Ziph with ^(B)three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within ^(A)the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground ^(B)at his head, and Abner and the army lay round him. ⁸ Then said Abishai to David, ^(C)“God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” ⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand ^(D)against the Lord's anointed and be guiltless?”

^11 (A)The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is ^(B)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 ^(C)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.

²² And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. ^23 (A)The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed.