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 hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5. Afterward, David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’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 the Lord 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 the Lord’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 the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord 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.