1 Samuel 24:6–12

⁶He said to his men, “I swear before the Lord: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed. ^gI will never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” ^h7With these words David persuaded ⁱhis 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 bowed to the ground in homage. ^j9David 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. ^kSomeone advised me to kill you, ^lbut I ^mntook pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. ¹¹See, my father! ^oLook at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life. ^p

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