1 Samuel 24:4-17

4Then David’s men said to him, “Behold, 1this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; 2I am about to hand your enemy over to you, and you shall do to him as it seems good 3to you.’” Then David got up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5But it came about afterward that 4David’s 5conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6So he said to his men, “6Far be it from me because of the Lord that I would do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, 7left the cave, and went on his way.

8Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, 8David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men 9who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking 10to harm you’? 1011Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and 12someone said to kill you, but 13I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11So, 14my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or 15rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you 16are lying in wait for my life, to take it. 1217May the Lord judge between 18you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘19Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? 20A dead dog, 21a single flea? 15May 22the Lord therefore be judge and decide between 23you and me; and may He see and 24plead my cause and save me from your hand.”

16When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “25Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept. 1726And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for 27you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.