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David Spares Saul's Life

¹ Now ^(C1)when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, ^(C2)he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi."² Then ^(C1)Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.³ He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul ^(C1)went in to ^(F1)relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.⁴ The men of David said to him, "Behold, ^(C1)this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold; ^(C2)I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good ^(F1)to you.'" Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly.⁵ It came about afterward that ^(C1)David's ^(F1)conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe.⁶ So he said to his men, "^(C1)Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed."⁷ David ^(F1)persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, ^(F2)left the cave, and went on his way.

⁸ Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, ^(C1)David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.⁹ David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks ^(F1)to harm you'?¹⁰ "^(C1)Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and ^(C2)some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed.'¹¹ "Now, ^(C1)my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or ^(F1)rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you ^(C2)are lying in wait for my life to take it.¹² "^(C1)May the LORD judge between ^(F1)you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.¹³ "As the proverb of the ancients says, '^(C1)Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.¹⁴ "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? ^(C1)A dead dog, ^(C2)a single flea?¹⁵ "^(C1)The LORD therefore be judge and decide between ^(F1)you and me; and may He see and ^(C2)plead my cause and ^(F2)deliver me from your hand."

¹⁶ When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "^(C1)Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept.^17 (C1)He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for ^(C2)you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.¹⁸ "You have declared today that you have done good to me, that ^(C1)the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me.¹⁹ "For if a man ^(C1)finds his enemy, will he let him go away ^(F1)safely? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.²⁰ "Now, behold, ^(C1)I know that you will surely be king, and that ^(C2)the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.²¹ "So now ^(C1)swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my ^(F1)descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's household."²² David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to ^(C1)the stronghold.