1 Samuel 24
1 After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness 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.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild 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 came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides 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 men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it shall seem good unto you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privately.
5 Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart stroke him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
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 unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed 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.
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
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
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hear you men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
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 how that the LORD had delivered you to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you: but mine eye spared you; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.
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, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and killed you not, know you and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against you; yet you hunt my soul to take it.
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.
The LORD judge between me and you, and the LORD avenge me of you: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
As says the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon you.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom do you pursue? after a dead dog, after a 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.”
The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of 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 it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and 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 righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.
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 showed this day how that you have dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into your hand, you killed me not.
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 if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward you good for that you have done unto me 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, behold, I know well that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established 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 now therefore unto me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.
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 unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men got them up unto the hold.
