1 Samuel 24
1 And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."
2 And Saul took three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon 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 on the rocks of the wild goats.
3 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 were abiding in the recesses 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 abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.
The men of David said to him, "Look, the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Look, 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 an edge of Saul's robe secretly.
5 And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe.
6 And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is the LORD's anointed."
7 And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way.
So David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul got up, and went down the road.
8 David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
Afterward David also got up and left the cave, and called out after Saul, saying, "My lord the king." When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.
9 And David said to Saul, Why dost thou listen to words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?
David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Look, David seeks your harm?'
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.
Look, this day your eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave, but I refused to kill you, and my eye spared you; and I said, 'I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.'
11 And see, my father, yes, 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 and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.
Now look, the skirt of your robe in my hand. When I cut off the skirt, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12 Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you.
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, or one flea?
15 Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice [in delivering me] out of thy hand.
May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand."
16 And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee 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 thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that the LORD had delivered me up into your hand and you did not kill me.
19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me 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 this day.
20 And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
Now, look, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."
22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
