King James Version

1 And David went up from there and sat in the strongholds of En Gedi. 2 And it came to pass when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, that they told him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." 3 And Saul took three thousand choice men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in the rocks of the wild goats. 4 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, and there was a cave, and Saul went in to cover his feet, and David and his men were sitting in the innermost part of the cave. 5 And the men of David said to me, "Behold, today is the day that the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him as it seems good in your eyes.'" And David arose and cut off the corner of Saul's robe secretly. 6 And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart struck him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. 7 And he said to his men, "Far be it from me before the Lord that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, for he is the Lord's anointed." 8 David put his men in words and did not let them rise up against Saul, and Saul arose from the cave and went on the way. 9 And David arose afterward and went out from the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 10 And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of man saying, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'?" 11 Behold, today your eyes have seen what the Lord has given you into my hand in the cave, and I said to kill you, but you spared me, and I said I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed. 12 And my father, see, also see the edge of your robe in my hand, for I have cut off the edge of your robe, and I have not killed you. Know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, and you are seeking my life to take it. 13 The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will avenge me from you, and my hand will not be upon you. 14 When the ancient ruler says, "From the wicked, wickedness will come out, and my hand will not be upon you." 15 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you chasing? After a dead dog? After one flea? 16 And the Lord will be a judge between me and you, and He will see and plead my case and judge me from your hand. 17 And 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. 18 And he said to David, "You are righteous before me, for you have rewarded me with good, and I have rewarded you with evil." 19 And you have declared today what you did good to me, what the Lord has enclosed me in your hand, and you did not kill me. 20 And if a man finds his enemy and sends him away in a good way, the LORD will repay you with good for what you have done to me this day. 21 And now, behold, I know that you will reign, and the kingdom of Israel will rise by your hand. 22 And now, swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.