[1] When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told,
"Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge'di." [2] Then Saul took three
thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men
in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. [3] And he came to the sheepfolds by the
way, 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. [4] And the
men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you,
`Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as
it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off the
skirt of Saul's robe. [5] And afterward David's heart smote him, because he
had cut off Saul's skirt. [6] He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I
should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand
against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed." [7] So David persuaded his
men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose
up and left the cave, and went upon his way. [8] Afterward David also
arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!"
And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth,
and did obeisance. [9] And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the
words of men who say, `Behold, David seeks your hurt'? [10] Lo, this day
your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave;
and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, `I will not put forth
my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.' [11] See, my
father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for by the fact that I cut
off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you may know and see that
there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you,
though you hunt my life to take it. [12] May the LORD judge between me and
you, may the LORD avenge me upon you; but my hand shall not be against you.
[13] As the proverb of the ancients says, `Out of the wicked comes forth
wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. [14] After whom has the
king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After
a flea! [15] May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me
and you, and see to it, and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand."
[16] When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is
this 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, whereas I have repaid you evil. [18] And you have declared this day
how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD
put me into your hands. [19] For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him
go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done
to me this day. [20] And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king,
and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. [21]
Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants
after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."
[22] And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his
men went up to the stronghold.
