6. David asked Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into Saul’s camp with me?”Abishai answered, “I’ll go with you.”
7. So that night David and Abishai went into Saul’s camp. Saul was asleep in the middle of the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the army were sleeping around Saul.
8. Abishai said to David, “Today God has handed your enemy over to you. Let me pin Saul to the ground with my spear. I’ll only have to do it once. I won’t need to hit him twice.”
9. But David said to Abishai, “Don’t kill Saul! No one can harm the Lord’s appointed king and still be innocent!
10. As surely as the Lord lives, the Lord himself will punish Saul. Maybe Saul will die naturally, or maybe he will go into battle and be killed.
11. But may the Lord keep me from harming his appointed king! Take the spear and water jug that are near Saul’s head. Then let’s go.”
12. So David took the spear and water jug that were near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw them or knew about it or woke up, because the Lord had put them sound asleep.
13. David crossed over to the other side of the hill and stood on top of the mountain far from Saul’s camp. They were a long way away from each other.
14. David shouted to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Won’t you answer me, Abner?”Abner answered, “Who is calling for the king? Who are you?”
15. David said, “You’re the greatest man in Israel. Isn’t that true? Why didn’t you guard your master the king? Someone came into your camp to kill your master the king!
16. You have not done well. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men should die. You haven’t guarded your master, the Lord’s appointed king. Look! Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17. Saul knew David’s voice. He said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”David answered, “Yes, it is, my master and king.”
18. David also said, “Why are you chasing me, my master? What wrong have I done? What evil am I guilty of?
19. My master and king, listen to me. If the Lord made you angry with me, let him accept an offering. But if people did it, may the Lord curse them! They have made me leave the land the Lord gave me. They have told me, ‘Go and serve other gods.’