1 Samuel 24:1–7

DAVID SPARES SAUL

24 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines,k he was told, “David is in the wilderness near En-gedi.”l 2 So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s fit young menm and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself.A,n David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave,o 4 so they said to him, “Look, this is the day the Lord told you about: ‘I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.’ ” Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David’s conscience botheredB,p him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.C 6 He said to his men, “As the Lord is my witness, I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed.q I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”r 7 With these words David persuadedD his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.

Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.