A reading from 1 Samuel.

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told,

Behold, David is in the wilderness of Ngedi.

Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David

and his men in front of the wild goats rocks.

And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to

relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave,

and the men of David said to him, here is the day of which the Lord said to you,

Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to

you.

Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward, David's heart

struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men,

The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my Lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against

him seeing he is the Lord's anointed. So David persuaded his men with these words and did not

permit them to attack Saul, and Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

Afterward, David also arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul.

My lord, the king!

And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.

And David said to Saul,

Why do you listen to the words of men who say,

Behold, David seeks your harm.

Behold, this day, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave,

...