1 Samuel 24:6–12

⁶He 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 persuaded^D his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.

Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. ⁸After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.^{s 9}David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? ¹⁰You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave.^t Someone advised me to kill you,^u but I^EF took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. ¹¹Look, my father!^v Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize^G that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.^w

¹²“May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.^x