1 Samuel 24

¹ When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."

² Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the face of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

³ He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went in to relieve himself, while David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave.

⁴ David's men said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you may do to him as it seems good to you.'" David arose and quietly cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

⁵ Afterward, David's heart struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

⁶ He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed—to stretch out my hand against him—for he is the LORD's anointed."

⁷ David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose from the cave and went on his way.

⁸ Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.

⁹ David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'David seeks your harm'?

¹⁰ "Today your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'

¹¹ "My father, look—yes, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting my life to take it.

¹² "May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand will not be against you.

¹³ "As the proverb of the ancients says, 'From the wicked comes wickedness,' but my hand will not be against you.

¹⁴ "After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After a single flea?

¹⁵ "May the LORD be judge and give judgment between me and you. May he see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."

¹⁶ When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

¹⁷ He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good while I have repaid you evil.

¹⁸ "You have declared today how you dealt well with me, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me.

¹⁹ "When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away safely? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me today.

²⁰ "Now I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

²¹ "Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's house."

²² David swore to Saul. Then Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.