1And it was when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines that they told him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."2And Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the faces of the Rocks of the Goats.3He came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave. Saul went in to relieve himself, and David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.4And David's men said to him, "Look, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Look, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good in your eyes.'" And David arose and cut off the corner of the robe that was on Saul secretly.5And it was after this, and David's heart struck him because he had cut the corner of that which was Saul's.6And he said to his men, "Far be it from me before the LORD if I do this thing to my lord, the anointed of the LORD, to put forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of the LORD."7And David tore into his men with words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose from the cave and went on his way.8Then David got up afterward and went out from the cave. He called after Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed his face to the ground and prostrated himself.9And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men saying, 'Look, David seeks your evil'?"10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD has given you into my hand today in the cave, and some said to kill you, but I spared you. And I said, "I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of the LORD."11And my father, see—yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting my life to take it.12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me from you, and my hand shall not be upon you.13As the proverb says, "From the wicked goes out wickedness," and my hand will not be against you.14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog? After one flea?15May the LORD be judge between me and you, and may he see and plead my cause and judge me from your hand.16When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "This is 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 repaid me good and I have repaid you evil."18And the righteous one said to David: "You—you have told today what you did to me good, what the LORD shut me up into your hand and you did not kill me. You have chewed me the cud the good and I have chewed you the evil."19And if a man finds his enemy and sends him away on a good way, and the LORD repays you good in place of this day that you have done to me—20And now, behold, I know that you will reign as king and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.21So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my seed after me or destroy my name from my father's house.22David swore to Saul, and Saul went to his house, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.