1 Samuel 24:4-17
4 Then the men of David said to him, “Behold, athis is the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, bI am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good in your eyes.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5 And it happened afterward that aDavid’s heart struck him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 So he said to his men, “aFar be it from me because of Yahweh that I should do this thing to my lord, the anointed of Yahweh, to send forth my hand against him, since he is the anointed of Yahweh.” 7 And David tore his men to pieces with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way.
8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, aDavid bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to do you evil’? 10 aBehold, this day your eyes have seen that Yahweh had given you today into my hand in the cave, and bsome said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not send forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Yahweh.’ 11 Now, amy father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge 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, though you bare lying in wait for my life to take it. 12 aMay Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘aOut of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? aAfter a dead dog, after ba single flea? 15 aTherefore Yahweh be judge and execute justice between you and me; and may He see and bplead my cause and execute justice for me to escape from your hand.”
16 Now it happened that when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “aIs this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 aAnd he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for byou have dealt well with me, while I have dealt evil with you.