1 Samuel 24

1 David went up from there and settled in the narrow places of En-gedi. [a] 2 When Saul came back from chasing the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness of En-gedi. 3 So he took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to look for David and his men, out in front of Saddaeem. [b] 4 He came to the flocks of sheep along the road, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to relieve himself, while David and his men were sitting far back inside the cave. [c]

5 David’s men said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord spoke of to you, when he said he would give your enemy into your hands — and you may do to him whatever seems good to you.” So David got up and quietly cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak. [d] 6 Afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s cloak. 7 And David said to his men, “May the Lord never let me do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed one — to raise my hand against him. He is the Lord’s anointed one.” [e] 8 So David held his men back with words and did not let them get up and kill Saul. And Saul got up and went down to the road.

9 Then David got up and went out of the cave after him, and David called out behind Saul, “My lord the king!” And Saul looked behind him, and David bent down with his face to the ground and bowed down to him. 10 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to people who say, ‘Look, David is out to take your life’? 11 Today your own eyes have seen how the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave. I would not kill you; I spared you. I said, ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ 12 And look — the corner of your cloak is in my hand. I cut off the corner and did not kill you. Know then, and see today that there is no evil in my hand, no ungodliness and no breaking of faith. I have not sinned against you, and still you are setting traps for my life, to take it. 13 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand will not be against you. 14 As the old saying goes, ‘Out of the lawless comes wrongdoing.’ But my hand will not be against you. 15 And now, after whom have you come out, king of Israel? After whom are you chasing? After a dead dog. After a single flea. 16 May the Lord be judge and arbiter between me and you. May the Lord look, and judge my case, and give me judgment against your hand.” [f]

17 When David had finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 18 And Saul said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have paid me back with good, and I have paid you back with evil. 19 Today you have told me the good you did me — how the Lord shut me up in your hands, and you did not kill me. 20 For if a man finds his enemy in trouble and sends him off on a good road, the Lord will repay him with good — as you have done to me today. 21 And now, look, I know that you will surely be king, and the kingdom of Israel will stand firm in your hands. 22 So now swear to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my descendants after me, and will not blot my name out of my father’s house.” 23 And David swore to Saul. Then Saul went off to his own place, and David and his men went up to the narrows of Messara. [g]