1 Samuel 24:8-15

New American Standard Bible

⁸ Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, ^(A)David 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 ^[a]who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking ^[b]to harm you’? ^10 (B)Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and ^(C)someone said to kill you, but ^[c]I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹¹ So, ^(D)my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or ^[d]rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you ^(E)are lying in wait for my life, to take it. ^12 (F)May the Lord judge between ^[e]you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you. ¹³ As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘^(G)Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. ¹⁴ After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? ^(H)A dead dog, ^(I)a single flea? ¹⁵ May ^(J)the Lord therefore be judge and decide between ^[f]you and me; and may He see and ^(K)plead my cause and save me from your hand.”