But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, &#8220;No!<n id="1" /> Appoint a king over us.&#8221; Now take your positions before the <sc>Lordsc> by your tribes and by your clans.&#8217;&#8221;p>

Then they cried out to the <sc>Lordsc> and admitted,<n id="1" /> &#8216;We have sinned, for we have forsaken the <sc>Lordsc> and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth.<n id="2" /> Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.&#8217;<n id="3" />

But now your kingdom will not continue! The <sc>Lordsc> has sought out<n id="1" /> for himself a man who is loyal to him<n id="2" /> and the <sc>Lordsc> has appointed<n id="3" /> him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the <sc>Lordsc> commanded you.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Saul instructed his servants, &#8220;Tell David secretly, &#8216;The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king&#8217;s son-in-law.&#8221;

He said, &#8216;Permit me to go,<n id="1" /> for we are having a family sacrifice in the city, and my brother urged<n id="2" /> me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go<n id="3" /> to see my brothers.&#8217; For that reason he has not come to the king&#8217;s table.&#8221;p>

For as long as<n id="1" /> this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men<n id="2" /> and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel.

Abishai said to David, &#8220;Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me drive the spear<n id="1" /> right through him into the ground with one swift jab!<n id="2" /> A second jab won&#8217;t be necessary!&#8221;p>

But may the <sc>Lordsc> prevent me from extending my hand against the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s chosen one! Now take the spear by Saul&#8217;s head and the jug of water, and let&#8217;s get out of here!&#8221;

This failure on your part isn&#8217;t good!<n id="1" /> As surely as the <sc>Lordsc> lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s chosen one, are as good as dead!<n id="2" /> Now look where the king&#8217;s spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!&#8221;p>

Now don&#8217;t let my blood fall to the ground away from the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge<n id="1" /> in the hill country.&#8221;p>

So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the <sc>Lordsc> has incited you against me, may he take delight in<n id="1" /> an offering. But if men have instigated this,<n id="2" /> may they be cursed before the <sc>Lordsc>! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s inheritance, saying, &#8216;Go on, serve other gods!&#8217;