1 Samuel 24

1Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.

2When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, saying, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”

3Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the rocks of the wild goats.

4He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.

5Then David’s men said to him, “Look, this is the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Look, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you may do to him as seems good in your eyes.’” Then David arose and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

6Afterward David’s heart struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

7And he said to his men, “Far be it from me, because of Yahweh, that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.”

8David restrained his men with words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul rose from the cave and went on his way.

9After that David rose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.

10And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of a man who says, ‘Look, David is seeking your harm’?”

11Look, this day your own eyes have seen that Yahweh gave you today into my hand in the cave, and I said to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’

12And, my father, see—yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For when I cut off the corner of your robe, I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting my life to take it.

13May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but my hand will not be against you.

14As the ancient proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes out from the wicked,’ but my hand will not be against you.

15After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog, after a single flea.

16May the LORD be judge and decide between me and you, see and plead my case, and vindicate me from your hand.

17When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

18And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me with good, while I have repaid you with evil.”

19And you have declared today what good you have done to me: when Yahweh gave me into your hand, you did not kill me.

20For when a man finds his enemy and lets him go on his way safely, may Yahweh repay you with good for what you have done to me this day.

21And now, look, I know that you will surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

22Now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father's house.

23So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.