12. May the Lord judge between me and you! May the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but I won’t lift a hand against you.
13. As the old proverb goes, ‘Evil deeds come from evildoers!’ but I won’t lift a hand against you.
14. So who is Israel’s king coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?
15. May the Lord be the judge and decide between you and me. May he see what has happened, argue my case, and vindicate me against you!"
16. As soon as David finished saying all this to Saul, Saul said, "David, my son, is that your voice?" Then he broke down in tears,
17. telling David, "You are more righteous than I am because you have treated me generously, but I have treated you terribly.
18. Today you’ve told me the good you have done for me—how the Lord handed me over to you, but how you didn’t kill me.
19. When someone finds an enemy, do they send the enemy away in peace? May the Lord repay you with good for what you have done for me today.
20. Now even I know that you will definitely become king, and Israel’s kingdom will flourish in your hands.
21. Because of that, make a solemn pledge to me by the Lord that you won’t kill off my descendants after I’m gone and that you won’t destroy my name from my family lineage."
22. David made a solemn pledge to Saul. Then Saul went back home, but David and his soldiers went up to the fortress.