1 Samuel 24:2-14
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats ' Rocks. 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul 's robe. 5And afterward David 's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul 's robe. 6He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord 's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord 's anointed." 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.
9And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’?
10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord 's anointed.’
11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.
12May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you.
14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
