3
So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)
4
Then the men of David said to him, "This is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.' " And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
5
Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe.
6
And he said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord."
7
So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
8
David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.
9
And David said to Saul: "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Indeed David seeks your harm'?
10
Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye 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, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.
12
Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.
13
As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.' But my hand shall not be against you.