First Reading1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
From the First Book of Samuel
2Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph,having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him,to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. verses 3–6 are not read7So David and Abishai came to the people by night;and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons,with his spear stuck in the ground at his head;and Abner and the people lay around him.8Then Abishai said to David,“God has delivered up your enemy into your hand today.Now therefore please let me strike him with the spear to the earth at one stroke,and I will not strike him the second time.”
9David said to Abishai,“Don’t destroy him,for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed,and be guiltless?”
verses 10–11 are not read12So David took the spearand 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 a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.13Then David went over to the other side,and stood on the top of the mountain far away,a great space being between them;
verses 14–21 are not read22David answered, “Behold the spear, O king!Let one of the young men come over and get it.23The Lord will give to every man his righteousnessand his faithfulness;because the Lord delivered you into my hand today,and I wouldn’t stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.