1 Samuel 24

¹Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”

²Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

³So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)

⁴Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord

⁵Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

⁶And he said to his men, “The Lord

⁷So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

⁸David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.

⁹And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?

¹⁰Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord

¹¹Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

¹²Let the Lord

¹³As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.

¹⁴After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?

¹⁵Therefore let the Lord

¹⁶So it was, 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.

¹⁷Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.

¹⁸And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord

¹⁹For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the Lord

²⁰And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

²¹Therefore swear now to me by the Lord

²²So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.