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 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, David seeks

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

and some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said I will not put out my hand against my

lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand,

for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know

and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands.

I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.

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