1 Samuel 24

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

2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3He came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting far back in the cave.

4David’s men said to him, “This is the day Yahweh told you about: ‘I am handing your enemy over to you, and you can do to him whatever you think best.’” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

5Afterward David’s conscience struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

6He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, and lift my hand against him, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.”

7With these words David held his men back and did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.

8Afterward David got up, 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 lay prostrate.

9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to people who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’?

10Today your own eyes have seen how Yahweh handed you over to me in the cave today. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’

11Look, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Understand and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, yet you are hunting me down to take my life.

12May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you.

13As the ancient proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand will not be against you.

14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?

15May Yahweh be the judge and decide between you and me. May he see and plead my cause, and vindicate me by rescuing me from your hand.”

16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul wept aloud.

17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I am, for you have repaid me with good, but I have repaid you with evil.

18Today you have shown how well you have treated me. Yahweh handed me over to you, but you did not kill me.

19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May Yahweh reward you well for what you have done for me today.

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

21Now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants after me or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

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