5. Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6. He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”
7. So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8. David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9. David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’
10. Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’s anointed.
11. Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12. May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
14. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15. May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16. It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18. You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.