Kings I 24
1 And it came to pass when Saul returned from pursuing after the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, David [is] in the wilderness of Engaddi.
And it comes to pass, when Saul has turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, “Behold, David [is] in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2 And he took with him three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of Saddaeem.
And Saul takes three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and goes to seek David and his men, on the front of the rocks of the wild goats,
3 And he came to the flocks of sheep that were by the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make preparation, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part of the cave.
and he comes to folds of the flock, on the way, and there [is] a cave, and Saul goes in to cover his feet; and David and his men are abiding in the sides of the cave.
4 And the men of David said to him, Behold, this [is] the day of which the Lord spoke to thee, that he would deliver thine enemy into thy hands; and thou shalt do to him as [it is] good in thy sight. So David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's garment secretly.
And the men of David say to him, “Behold, the day of which YHWH said to you, Behold, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you have done to him as it is good in your eyes”; and David rises and cuts off the skirt of the upper robe which [is] on Saul with stealth.
5 And it came to pass after this that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment.
And it comes to pass afterward that the heart of David strikes him, because that he has cut off the skirt which [is] on Saul,
6 And David said to his men, The Lord forbid it me, that I should do this ting to my lord the anointed of the Lord, to lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.
and he says to his men, “Far be it from me, by YHWH; I do not do this thing to my lord—to the anointed of YHWH—to put forth my hand against him, for he [is] the anointed of YHWH.”
7 So David persuaded his men by [his] words, and did not suffer them to arise and slay Saul: and Saul arose and went his way.
And David subdues his men by words, and has not permitted them to rise against Saul; and Saul has risen from the cave, and goes on the way;
8 And David rose up [and went] after him out of the cave: and David cried after Saul, saying, [My] lord, [O] king! and Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance to him.
and David rises afterward, and goes out from the cave, and calls after Saul, saying, “My lord, O king!” And Saul looks attentively behind him, and David bows—face to the earth—and pays respect.
9 And David said to Saul, Why dost thou hearken to the words of the people, saying, Behold, David seeks thy life?
And David says to Saul, “Why do you hear the words of man, saying, Behold, David is seeking your calamity?
10 Behold, thine eyes have seen this day how that the Lord has delivered thee this day into my hands in the cave; and I would not slay thee, but spared thee, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.
Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that YHWH has given you into my hand today in the cave; and [one] said to slay you, and [my eye] has pity on you, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for he [is] the anointed of YHWH.
11 And behold, the skirt of thy mantle [is] in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not slay thee: know then and see to-day, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against thee, yet thou layest snares for my soul to take it.
And my father, see, indeed see the skirt of your upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of your upper robe, and I have not slain you, know and see that there is not evil and transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, and you are hunting my soul to take it!
12 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord requite thee on thyself: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
YHWH judges between me and you, and YHWH has avenged me of you, and my hand is not on you;
13 As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
as the allegory of the ancients says, Wickedness goes out from the wicked, and my hand is not on you.
14 And now after whom dost thou come forth, O king of Israel? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea?
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog! After one flea!
15 The Lord be judge and umpire between me and thee, the Lord look upon and judge my cause, and rescue me out of thy hand.
And YHWH has been for judge, and has judged between me and you, indeed, He sees and pleads my cause, and delivers me out of your hand.”
16 And it came to pass when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
And it comes to pass, when David completes to speak these words to Saul, that Saul says, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifts up his voice, and weeps.
17 And Saul said to David, Thou [art] more righteous that I, for thou hast recompensed me good, but I have recompensed thee evil.
And he says to David, “You [are] more righteous than I; for you have done me good, and I have done you evil;
18 And thou hast told me to-day what good thou hast done me, how the Lord shut me up into thy hands to-day, and thou didst not slay me.
and you have declared today how that you have done good with me, how that YHWH shut me up into your hand, and you did not slay me,
19 And if any one should find his enemy in distress, and should send him forth in a good way, then the Lord will reward him good, as thou has done this day.
and that a man finds his enemy, and has sent him away in a good manner; and YHWH repays you good for that which you did to me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
And now, behold, I have known that you certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel has stood in your hand;
21 Now then swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, that thou wilt not blot out my name from the house of my father.
and now, swear to me by YHWH [that] you do not cut off my seed after me, nor do you destroy my name from the house of my father.”
22 So David swore to Saul: and Saul departed to his place, and David and his men went up to the strong-hold of Messera.
And David swears to Saul, and Saul goes to his house, and David and his men have gone up to the fortress.
