1 Samuel 24 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

When Saul came back from chasing the Philistines, he got a report: "David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."

So Saul took three thousand handpicked men from all of Israel and went looking for David and his men in the direction of the Wild Goat Rocks.

He came to some sheep pens along the road where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were sitting further back in that very cave.

David's men whispered to him, "This is the day Yahweh told you about when he said, 'I'm going to hand your enemy over to you, and you can do whatever you think is best.'" So David crept up and quietly cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

But right after he did it, David's conscience hit him hard for cutting Saul's robe.

He told his men, "Yahweh would never let me do such a thing to my master — Yahweh's chosen leader. I will not raise my hand against him, because he is Yahweh's chosen leader."

David sharply rebuked his men with these words and didn't let them attack Saul. Then Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.

After that, David got up and went out of the cave. He called after Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked back, David bowed face-down to the ground in respect.

David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to people who say, 'David is trying to destroy you'?

Look, today you can see with your own eyes that Yahweh handed you over to me in that cave. Some of my men urged me to kill you, but I had compassion on you. I said, 'I will not raise my hand against my master, because he is Yahweh's chosen leader.'

Look, my father — look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut the corner of your robe but I didn't kill you. Understand this and see that I have no intention of harming you or rebelling against you. I haven't wronged you, yet you are hunting me down to take my life.

Let Yahweh judge between you and me. Let Yahweh take up my case and deliver justice for me against you — but my own hand will never touch you.

As the old proverb says, 'From wicked people, wickedness comes.' But my hand will never touch you.

Who is the king of Israel even chasing? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea!

So let Yahweh be the judge and decide between you and me. Let him look into this, take up my case, and deliver me from your hand.

When David finished saying all this, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" And Saul broke down crying.

He said to David, "You are more in the right than I am. You've treated me with goodness, and I've treated you with evil.

You've shown today how good you've been to me — Yahweh handed me over to you, and you didn't kill me.

When a man finds his enemy, does he just let him walk away unharmed? May Yahweh reward you with good for what you did for me today.

Now look — I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established under your leadership.

Now swear to me by Yahweh that you won't wipe out my descendants after me, and that you won't erase my name from my father's family.

So David gave Saul his word. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back up to their stronghold.