1And it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yehovah 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. 5And it happened afterward, that David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6And he said to his men, Yehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yehovah’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is Yehovah’s anointed. 7So David restrained his men with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and paid homage. 9And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks your harm? 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how Yehovah had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some told me to kill you; but my eye spared you; and I said, I will not put out my hand against my lord; for he is Yehovah’s anointed. 11Moreover, my father, see, indeed, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it. 12Yehovah judge between me and you, and Yehovah avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be upon you. 13As the proverb of the ancients says, Out of the wicked comes wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon you. 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15Yehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand. 16And it happened, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17And he said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have rendered to me good, whereas I have rendered to you evil. 18And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, since when Yehovah had delivered me up into your hand, you did not kill me. 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? therefore may Yehovah reward you with good for that which you have done to me this day. 20And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. 21Swear now therefore to me by Yehovah, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house. 22And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.