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.
When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “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.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on 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.
He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 And the men of David said to him, Behold, this [is] the day of which the Lord spoke to you, that he would deliver your enemy into your hands; and you shall do to him as [it is] good in your sight. So David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's garment secretly.
David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5 And it came to pass after this that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment.
Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
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.
He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
7 So David persuaded his men by [his] words, and did not suffer them to arise and kill Saul: and Saul arose and went his way.
So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his 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.
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9 And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of the people, saying, Behold, David seeks your life?
David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
10 Behold, your eyes have seen this day how that the Lord has delivered you this day into my hands in the cave; and I would not kill you, but spared you, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.
Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
11 And behold, the skirt of your mantle [is] in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not kill you: know then and see today, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against you, yet you lay snares for my soul to take it.
Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12 The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord requite you on yourself: but my hand shall not be upon you.
May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13 As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon you.
As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
14 And now after whom do you come forth, O king of Israel? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea?
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15 The Lord be judge and umpire between me and you, the Lord look upon and judge my cause, and rescue me out of your hand.
May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver 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 your voice, Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17 And Saul said to David, You [are] more righteous that I, for you have recompensed me good, but I have recompensed you evil.
He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18 And you have told me today what good you have done me, how the Lord shut me up into your hands today, and you did not kill me.
You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill 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 you has done this day.
For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to me today.
20 And now, behold, I know that you shall surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21 Now then swear to me by the Lord, that you will not destroy my seed after me, that you will not blot out my name from the house of my father.
Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
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.
David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
