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 had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told to 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 sheepfolds 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 to him, Behold the day of which the LORD said to thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.
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 smote 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 to his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth my 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 restrained his servants with these words, and permitted them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose 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 rose 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, Why hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy harm?
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 thy eyes have seen how the LORD hath delivered thee to day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but my eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my 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 thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest 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 thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
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 dost thou 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 thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy 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 finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy 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, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded thee with 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 thou hast showed this day how thou hast dealt with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thy hand, thou didst 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 if a man findeth his enemy, will he let him go away well? therefore the LORD reward thee with good for what thou hast done to 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 thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy 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 to me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt 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 to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the strong hold.
