1Samuel:24

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* And it came to pass , when Saul was returned from following the Philistines , that it was told him , saying , Behold , David is in the wilderness of En-gedi . * Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel , and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats . * And he came to the sheepcotes by the way , where was a cave , and Saul went in to cover his feet . Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave . * And the men of David said to him , Behold , the day of which LORD said to thee , Behold , I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand , and thou shall do to him as it shall seem good to thee . Then David arose , and cut off the skirt of Saul * And it came to pass afterward , that David 's heart smote him , because he had cut off Saul 's skirt . * And he said to his men , LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord , LORD 's anointed , to put forth my hand against him , since he is LORD 's anointed . * So 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 . * David 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 did obeisance . * And David said to Saul , Why do thou hearken to men 's words , saying , Behold , David seeks thy hurt ? * Behold , this day thine eyes have seen how that LORD had delivered thee today into my hand in the cave . And some bade me kill thee , but [I ] spared thee . And I said , I will not put forth my hand against my lord , for he is LORD 's anoi * Moreover , my father , see , yea , see the skirt of thy robe in my hand , for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe , and killed thee not . Know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand , and I have not sinned * LORD judge between me and thee , and LORD avenge me of thee , but my hand shall not be upon thee . * As says the proverb of the ancients , Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness , but my hand shall not be upon thee . * After whom is the king of Israel come out ? After whom do thou pursue ? After a dead dog , after a flea . * LORD therefore be judge , and give sentence between me and thee , and see , and plead my cause , and deliver me out of thy hand . * And it came to pass , when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul , that Saul said , Is this thy voice , my son David ? And Saul lifted up his voice , and wept . * And he said to David , Thou are more righteous than I , for thou have rendered to me good , whereas I have rendered to thee evil . * And thou have declared this day how that thou have dealt well with me , inasmuch as when LORD had delivered me up into thy hand , thou killed me not . * For if a man finds his enemy , will he let him go away well ? Therefore LORD reward thee good for that which thou have done to me this day . * And now , behold , I know that thou shall surely be king , and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand . * Swear now therefore to me by LORD , that thou will not cut off my seed after me , and that thou will not destroy my name out of my father 's house . * And David swore to Saul . And Saul went home , but David and his men got up to the stronghold .

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