3. He came to a cave close to some sheep pens by the road and went in to relieve himself. It happened to be the very cave in which David and his men were hiding far back in the cave.
4. They said to him, “This is your chance! The Lord has told you that he would put your enemy in your power and you could do to him whatever you wanted to.” David crept over and cut off a piece of Saul's robe without Saul's knowing it.
5. But then David's conscience began to trouble him,
6. and he said to his men, “May the Lord keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the Lord chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the Lord!”
7. So David convinced his men that they should not attack Saul.Saul got up, left the cave, and started on his way.
8. Then David went out after him and called to him, “Your Majesty!” Saul turned round, and David bowed down to the ground in respect
9. and said, “Why do you listen to people who say that I am trying to harm you?
10. You can see for yourself that just now in the cave the Lord put you in my power. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I felt sorry for you and said that I would not harm you in the least, because you are the one whom the Lord chose to be king.
11. Look, my father, look at the piece of your robe I am holding! I could have killed you, but instead I only cut this off. This should convince you that I have no thought of rebelling against you or of harming you. You are hunting me down to kill me, even though I have not done you any wrong.
12. May the Lord judge which one of us is wrong! May he punish you for your action against me, for I will not harm you in the least.
13. You know the old saying, ‘Evil is done only by evil people.’ And so I will not harm you.
14. Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea!
15. The Lord will judge, and he will decide which one of us is wrong. May he look into the matter, defend me, and save me from you.”