1. WHEN SAUL returned from following the Philistines, he was told, Behold, David is in the Wilderness of En-gedi.
2. Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men among the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3. He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave's innermost recesses.
4. David's men said to him, Behold the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands and you shall do to him as seems good to you. Then David arose [in the darkness] and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe.
5. Afterward, David's heart smote him because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6. He said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this to my master, the Lord's anointed, to put my hand out against him, when he is the anointed of the Lord.
7. So David checked his men with these words and did not let them rise against Saul. But Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8. David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and did obeisance.
9. And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of men who say, David seeks to do you harm?
10. Behold, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.
11. See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the skirt of your robe and did not kill you, you know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it.
12. May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me upon you, but my hand shall not be upon you.