1 When Saul came back from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."
2 Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men facing the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were sitting far back in the cave.
4 David's men said to him, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he told you, 'I am handing your enemy over to you, and you can do to him as you see fit.'" David got up and quietly cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
5 Afterward David's heart troubled him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
6 He told his men, "The LORD keep me from doing such a thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, from lifting my hand against him, since he is the LORD's anointed."
7 With these words David held his men back and would not allow them to rise up against Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.
8 Then David also got up, went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" Saul looked back, and David bowed low with his face to the ground and paid him homage.
9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the talk of men who say, 'David is out to harm you'?
10 Today you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I took pity on you. I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'
11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, recognize and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hand. I have not sinned against you, yet you are stalking my life to take it.
12 Let the LORD judge between me and you, and let the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand will not be against you.
13 As the ancient proverb puts it, 'From wicked men comes wickedness'; but my hand will not be against you.
14 Whom has the king of Israel come out after? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog, a single flea!
15 May the LORD be the judge and decide between me and you. May he see to it, take up my cause, and judge me free of your hand."
16 When David finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul raised his voice and wept.
17 He said to David, "You are more in the right than I am, for you have done good to me, while I have done evil to you.
18 Today you have shown what good you have done me: the LORD put me into your hand, and you did not kill me.
19 When a man finds his enemy, does he send him safely on his way? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me today.
20 Now I know that you will certainly be king, and the kingship of Israel will be firmly in your hand.
21 So swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me or destroy my name from my father's house."
22 David swore it to Saul. Saul went home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.