3. Saul came to the sheep pens beside the road. A cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were hiding far back in the cave.
4. The men said to David, “Today is the day the Lord talked about! The Lord told you, ‘I will give your enemy to you. You can do anything you want with him.’”Then David crawled near Saul. He cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. But Saul did not notice him.
5. Later David felt guilty because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
6. He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me from doing such a thing to my master! Saul is the Lord’s appointed king. I should not do anything against him, because he is the Lord’s appointed king!”
7. David used these words to stop his men. He did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went his way.
8. When David came out of the cave, he shouted to Saul, “My master and king!” Saul looked back, and David bowed facedown on the ground.
9. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when people say, ‘David plans to harm you’?
10. You have seen something with your own eyes today. You have seen how the Lord put you in my power in the cave. But I refused to kill you. I was merciful to you. I said, ‘I won’t harm my master, because he is the Lord’s appointed king.’
11. My father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe, but I didn’t kill you. Now understand and know I am not planning any evil against you. I did nothing wrong to you, but you are hunting me to kill me.
12. May the Lord judge between us. And may he punish you for the wrong you have done to me! But I won’t fight you.
13. There is an old saying: ‘Evil things come from evil people.’ So I won’t hurt you.
14. Whom is the king of Israel coming out against? Whom are you chasing? You’re not chasing someone who will hurt you! It’s as if you are chasing a dead dog or a flea.