1 Samuel 24
1 After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
And when Saul had returned after pursuing the Philistines, they reported to him, saying, “Behold, David is in the desert of Engedi.”
2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
Therefore, Saul, taking three thousand elect men from all of Israel, traveled in order to search for David and his men, even upon the most broken rocks, which are passable only to mountain goats.
3 Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
And he arrived at the sheepfolds, which presented themselves along the way. And a cave was in that place, which Saul entered, so that he might ease his bowels. But David and his men were hiding in the interior part of the cave.
4 So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy to you, so that you may do to him as it will be pleasing in your eyes.’” Then David rose up, and he quietly cut off the edge of Saul’s cloak.
5 Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
After this, his own heart struck David, because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s cloak.
6 So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
And he said to his men: “May the Lord be gracious to me, lest I do this thing to my lord, the Christ of the Lord, so that I lay my hand upon him. For he is the Christ of the Lord.”
7 With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
And David restrained his men with his words, and he would not permit them to rise up against Saul. And so Saul, going out of the cave, continued to undertake his journey.
8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
Then David also rose up after him. And departing from the cave, he cried out behind the back of Saul, saying: “My lord, the king!” And Saul looked behind him. And David, bowing himself face down to the ground, reverenced.
9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
And he said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say: ‘David seeks evil against you?’
10 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord has delivered you into my hand, in the cave. And I thought that I might kill you. But my eye has spared you. For I said: I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Christ of the Lord.
11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
Moreover, see and know, O my father, the edge of your cloak in my hand. For though I cut off the top of your cloak, I was not willing to extend my hand against you. Turn your soul and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor any iniquity or sin against you. Yet you lie in wait for my life, so that you may take it away.
12 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
May the Lord judge between me and you. And may the Lord vindicate me from you. But my hand will not be against you.
13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
So too, it is said in the ancient proverb, ‘From the impious, impiety will go forth.’ Therefore, my hand will not be upon you.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
Whom are you pursuing, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? You are pursuing a dead dog, a single flea.
15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
May the Lord be the judge, and may he judge between me and you. And may he see and judge my case, and rescue me from your hand.”
16 When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
And when David had completed speaking words in this way to Saul, Saul said, “Could this be your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice, and he wept.
17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
And he said to David: “You are more just than I am. For you have distributed good to me, but I have repaid evil to you.
18 And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
And you have revealed this day the good that you have done for me: how the Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me.
19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
For who, when he will have found his enemy, will release him along a good path? So may the Lord repay you for this good turn, because you have acted on my behalf this day.
20 Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
And now I know certainly that you shall be king, and you shall have the kingdom of Israel in your hand.
21 So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
Swear to me in the Lord that you will not take away my offspring after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
And David swore to Saul. Therefore, Saul went away to his own house. And David and his men ascended to places that were more secure.
