1When Saul came back from following the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all over Israel and went to search for David and his men on the rocks where the wild goats live.
3He came to the sheep pens along the road, where there was a cave. Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the deepest part of the cave.
4David’s men said to him, “Look, this is the day Yahweh told you about, ‘I will hand your enemy over to you, and you can do to him whatever you think is right.’” So David got up and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5Afterward, David felt guilty because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
6He said to his men, “May Yahweh prevent me from doing such a thing to my lord, Yahweh’s chosen king, or from attacking him, because he is Yahweh’s chosen king.”
7With these words, David restrained his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. Saul then got up out of the cave and went on his way.
8David also got up afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground as a sign of respect.
9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to people who say, ‘Look, David is trying to harm you’?
10See for yourself today how Yahweh delivered you into my hand in the cave. Some encouraged me to kill you, but I spared you, saying, ‘I will not attack my lord, for he is Yahweh’s chosen king.’
11Also, my father, look, see the corner of your robe in my hand. Since I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you, you should know and see that I have no evil or rebellious intentions, and I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting for my life to take it.
12May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh get even with you for my sake; but my hand will not harm you.
13As the old saying goes, ‘Wickedness comes from the wicked;’ but my hand will not harm you.
14Who has the king of Israel come out to fight? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog? A flea?
15May Yahweh therefore be the judge and decide between you and me. May he see and uphold my cause, and rescue me from your hand.”
16When David finished saying these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul then cried out loud.
17He said to David, “You are more in the right than I am, for you have treated me well, even though I have treated you badly.
18You have shown today how well you have dealt with me, because when Yahweh handed me over to you, you did not kill me.
19If someone finds their enemy, do they let them go unharmed? May Yahweh reward you for what you did for me today.
20Now I know that you will surely be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established under your rule.
21So promise me by Yahweh that you will not kill my descendants after I'm gone, and that you won't erase my name from my father’s family.
22David made a promise to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to their stronghold.