1And it happened, when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, that they told him, saying, “Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the face of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3And he came to the sheepfolds along the way, and there was a cave there, and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
4And David’s men said to him, “Look, this is the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I am giving your enemies into your hand, and you shall do to him as it is good in your eyes.’” So David arose and secretly cut off the corner of the robe that belonged to Saul.
5And it happened afterward that David’s heart struck him because he had cut off the corner that belonged to Saul.
6And he said to his men, “Far be it from me, from Yahweh, that I should do this thing to my lord, to Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.”
7And David restrained his men with these words and did not permit them to rise up against Saul. And Saul rose up from the cave and went on his way.
8And David arose afterward and went out from the cave and called out after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And Saul looked behind him, and David bowed his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people, saying, ‘Look, David seeks your harm’?
10Look, this day your eyes have seen how Yahweh gave you today into my hand in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’
11And, my father, see—yes, see—the corner of your robe in my hand! For by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, yet you are hunting my life to take it.
12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me from you, but my hand will not be against you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness’—but my hand will not be against you.
14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog! After a single flea!
15So may Yahweh be judge and decide between me and you; may he see and plead my cause, and vindicate me from your hand.
16And it happened, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have dealt with me good, while I have dealt with you evil.
18And you have declared today that you have done good with me, in that Yahweh delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me.
19For if a man finds his enemy, will he send him away on a good road? So may Yahweh reward you with good in return for what you have done for me today.
20And now, look, I know that you will surely reign as king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21So now, swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my seed after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.
22And David swore to Saul, and Saul went to his house, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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