1 Samuel 24
1 Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2 Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
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.
3 And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
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.
4 And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
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.
5 And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
6 And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
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.”
7 So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
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.
8 And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
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
9 And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10 Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
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.’
11 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
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.
12 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
13 There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
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.”
16 Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
17 And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
18 And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
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.
19 If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
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.
20 And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21 So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
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.”
22 And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
