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.G,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 botheredH,p him because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.I 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 persuadedJ his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul.

Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8 After 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’? 10 You 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 IK,L took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 Look, my father!v Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you.C Recognize 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 13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’y My hand will never be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?z 15 May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliverM me from you.”aa