1 Samuel 24
1 David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.
2 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
3 Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men among the crags of the wild goats.
4 He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were sitting at the back of the cave.
5 David’s men said to him, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will hand your enemy over to you, and you may do with him whatever seems right to you.’” David got up and quietly cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.
6 Afterward, David’s heart troubled him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.
7 He said to his men, “May the LORD keep me from doing this to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, from raising my hand against him, for he is the LORD’s anointed.”
8 With these words David restrained his men and did not let them rise against Saul. Saul left the cave and went on his way.
9 Afterward, David got up, went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” Saul looked back, and David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
10 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to people who say, ‘David is looking to harm you’?
11 Today your own eyes have seen that the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Someone urged me to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not raise my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
12 Look, my father, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in me, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you are hunting me down to take my life.”
13 “May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me against you; but my hand will not be against you.
14 As the old saying goes, ‘Wickedness comes from the wicked.’ But my hand will not be against you.
15 Who has the king of Israel come out to pursue? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A flea!
16 May the LORD be judge and decide between me and you. May he see, defend my cause, and give me justice by delivering me from your hand.”
17 When David finished saying these words to Saul, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Then Saul wept aloud.
18 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me with good, while I have repaid you with evil.
19 Today you have shown how well you have treated me: the LORD handed me over to you, and you did not kill me.
20 When someone finds his enemy, does he let him go safely on his way? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me today.
21 Now I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
22 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not destroy my descendants after me or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
23 David swore this to Saul. Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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