Catholic Public Domain Version

1 Samuel 24:4-9 Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

4. And he arrived at the sheepfolds, which presented themselves along the way. And a cave was in that place, which Saul entered, so that he might ease his bowels. But David and his men were hiding in the interior part of the cave.

5. And the servants of David said to him: "Behold the day, about which the Lord said to you, 'I will deliver your enemy to you, so that you may do to him as it will be pleasing in your eyes.' " Then David rose up, and he quietly cut off the edge of Saul's cloak.

6. After this, his own heart struck David, because he had cut off the edge of Saul's cloak.

7. And he said to his men: "May the Lord be gracious to me, lest I do this thing to my lord, the Christ of the Lord, so that I lay my hand upon him. For he is the Christ of the Lord."

8. And David restrained his men with his words, and he would not permit them to rise up against Saul. And so Saul, going out of the cave, continued to undertake his journey.

9. Then David also rose up after him. And departing from the cave, he cried out behind the back of Saul, saying: "My lord, the king!" And Saul looked behind him. And David, bowing himself face down to the ground, reverenced.