1 Now A1 Sam 23:28, 29when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, B1 Sam 23:19he was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then A1 Sam 26:2Saul 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 AJudg 3:24went in to 1Lit cover his feetrelieve himself. Now BPs 57: title; 142: titleDavid and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4 The men of David said to him, “Behold, A1 Sam 23:17; 25:28-30this is the day of which the Loʀᴅ said to you, ‘Behold; B1 Sam 26:8, 11I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good 1Lit in your sightto you.’ ” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5 It came about afterward that A2 Sam 24:10David’s 1Lit heart struckconscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 So he said to his men, “A1 Sam 26:11Far be it from me because of the Loʀᴅ that I should do this thing to my lord, the Loʀᴅ’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Loʀᴅ’s anointed.” 7 David 1Lit tore apartpersuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, 2Lit fromleft 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, A1 Sam 25:23, 24; 1 Kin 1:31David 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 1Lit your hurtto harm you’? 10  “APs 7:3, 4Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Loʀᴅ had given you today into my hand in the cave, and B1 Sam 24:4some 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 Loʀᴅ’s anointed.’ 11  “Now, A2 Kin 5:13my 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 1Lit transgressionrebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you B1 Sam 23:14, 23; 26:20are lying in wait for my life to take it. 12  “AGen 16:5; 31:53; Judg 11:27; 1 Sam 26:10, 23May the Loʀᴅ judge between 1Lit me and youyou and me, and may the Loʀᴅ avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13  “As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘AMatt 7:16-20Out 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? A2 Sam 9:8A dead dog, B1 Sam 26:20a single flea? 15  “A1 Sam 24:12The Loʀᴅ therefore be judge and decide between 1Lit me and youyou and me; and may He see and BPs 35:1; 43:1; 119:154; Mic 7:9plead my cause and 2Lit vindicatedeliver me from your hand.”

16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “A1 Sam 26:17Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 A1 Sam 26:21He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for BMatt 5:44you 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 A1 Sam 26:23the Loʀᴅ delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. 19  “For if a man A1 Sam 23:17finds his enemy, will he let him go away 1Lit on a good roadsafely? May the Loʀᴅ therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20  “Now, behold, A1 Sam 23:17I know that you will surely be king, and that B1 Sam 13:14the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21  “So now AGen 21:23; 1 Sam 20:14-17; 2 Sam 21:6-8swear to me by the Loʀᴅ that you will not cut off my 1Lit seeddescendants 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 A1 Sam 23:29the stronghold.