1 Samuel 24

24 ¹ After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En Gedi." ² So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. ³ He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the far recesses of the cave. ⁴ David's men said to him, "This is the day our Father spoke of when he said to you, 'I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you may do to him as you see fit.'" So David got up and quietly cut off a corner of Saul's robe. ⁵ Afterward David's conscience struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. ⁶ He said to his men, "Far be it from me, before our Father, that I should do such a thing to my lord, his anointed, to lift my hand against him, for he is the anointed of our Father." ⁷ With these words David restrained his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went on his way. ⁸ Then David also got up, went out of the cave, and called out after Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed low with his face to the ground.

⁹ David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the men who say, 'Look, David is seeking to harm you'? ¹⁰ This very day your own eyes have seen how our Father gave you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of our Father.' ¹¹ Look, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you. Know and understand that there is no wrong or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt me down to take my life. ¹² May our Father judge between you and me, and may our Father bring me justice against you; but my own hand will not be against you. ¹³ As the old proverb says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you. ¹⁴ Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? ¹⁵ May our Father be the judge and decide between you and me. May he see it, take up my cause, and vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.

Saul Weeps and David Gives His Oath

¹⁶ When David finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" And Saul wept aloud. ¹⁷ He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have treated me well, while I have treated you badly. ¹⁸ You have shown today how well you have dealt with me, for when our Father gave me into your hand, you did not kill me. ¹⁹ If a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May our Father reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. ²⁰ Now I know for certain that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ So swear to me by our Father that you will not cut off my children after me, and that you will not blot out my name from my father's house."

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