5. Afterwards, David was sorry that he had even done that,
8. Soon, David also got up and left the cave. “Your Majesty!” he shouted from a distance.Saul turned around to look. David bowed down very low
9. and said:Your Majesty, why do you listen to people who say that I'm trying to harm you?
10. You can see for yourself that the Lord gave me the chance to catch you in the cave today. Some of my men wanted to kill you, but I wouldn't let them do it. I told them, “I will not harm the Lord's chosen king!”
11. Your Majesty, look at what I'm holding. You can see that it's a piece of your robe. If I could cut off a piece of your robe, I could have killed you. But I let you live, and that should prove I'm not trying to harm you or to rebel. I haven't done anything to you, and yet you keep trying to ambush and kill me.
12. I'll let the Lord decide which one of us has done right. I pray that the Lord will punish you for what you're doing to me, but I won't do anything to you.
13. An old proverb says, “Only evil people do evil things,” and so I won't harm you.
14. Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I'm as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.
15. I pray that the Lord will help me escape and show that I am in the right.
16. “David, my son—is that you?” Saul asked. Then he started crying
17. and said:David, you're a better person than I am. You treated me with kindness, even though I've been cruel to you.
18. You've told me how you were kind enough not to kill me when the Lord gave you the chance.