 1 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, they told him saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 2 Saul took 3,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the front of the rocks of the wild goats. 3 He came to the folds of the flock on the way, where there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4 The men of David said to him, Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy to you so that you may do to him as it shall seem good to you. And David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly. 5 Afterward David's heart struck him because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 He said to his men, Far be it from me, by the Lord, if I will do this to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, since he is the anointed of the Lord. 7 David held back his men with words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose out of the cave and went on his way. 8 David arose afterward and left the cave and called out to Saul, My lord the king. Saul looked behind him and David bowed his face to the earth and prostrated himself. 9 David said to Saul, Why do you hear words saying, Behold, David seeks to do you evil? 10 Behold, your eyes have seen today how the Lord had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. And one said to kill you. But I had pity on you. And I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. 11 My father, behold. Yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my soul to take it. 12 May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me of you. But my hand shall not be on you. 13 As the ancient proverb says, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked. But my hand shall not be on you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea? 15 May the Lord therefore be judge and judge between you and me, and see and plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand. 16 When David stopped speaking, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, You are more righteous than I for you have rewarded me with good but I have rewarded you evil. 18 You have shown this day how you have dealt well with me, because when the Lord shut me up to you, you did not kill me. 19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go completely away? And may the Lord reward good for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall he established in your hand. 21 Pledge+ therefore before 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 David promised+ Saul and Saul went home. But David and his men went into the stronghold.
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