1 ¶ After Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness of Engedi.

2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to look for David and his men among the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepfolds along the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to rest: while David and his men remained in the back of the cave.

4 And David’s men said to him, This is the day of which the LORD told you, saying, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, so that you may do to him whatever seems good to you. Then David arose, and quietly cut the skirt off of Saul’s robe.

5 And afterward, David’s heart condemned him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 And he said to his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’S anointed.

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

8 Then David also arose, and left the cave, and shouted to Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked back, David bowed with his face to the earth.

9 ¶ Then David said to Saul, Why do you believe men who say, David seeks to hurt you?

10 Look, today you can see with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave: and some urged me to kill you: but I spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.

11 Look, my father, and see for yourself, yes, look at the skirt of your robe in my hand: for I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you can see and know that there is no evil or treason in my hands, I have not sinned against you; though you hunt my life to take it.

12 May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD grant me justice regarding you: but my hand will not be against you.

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

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? a dead dog, a flea.

15 Therefore may the LORD be the judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.

16 ¶ After David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul said, Is that your voice, David my son? And Saul wept aloud.

17 And he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, while I have rewarded you evil.

18 And you have shown this day how you have treated me well: for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know for certain that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

21 Therefore now swear to me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

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