1 Samuel 24:6-10

English Standard Version

⁶ He said to his men, ^(A)“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 ^(B)the Lord's anointed.” ⁷ So David persuaded his men with these words ^(C)and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

⁸ 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. ⁹ And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? ¹⁰ Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. ^(D)And some told me to kill you, but I spared you.^[a] I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, ^(E)for he is the Lord's anointed.’