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.
When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
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 from 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 sheep pens on the way, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting far back in 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.
David's men said to him, “This is the day of which Yahweh spoke when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, for you to do with him as you wish.'” Then David arose and quietly crept forward and cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
5 And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off 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, “May Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Yahweh's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh'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 rebuked his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. Saul stood up, left the cave, and went on his way.
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 stood up, left the cave, and called out after Saul: “My master the king.” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and showed him respect.
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 the men who say, 'See, David is seeking 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.
Today your eyes have seen how Yahweh put you into my hand when we were in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my master; for he is Yahweh'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.
See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, even though you hunt 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 Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against 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 wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a 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 Yahweh be judge and give judgment between you and me, and see to it, and plead my cause and permit me to escape from 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.
When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, 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 am. For you have repaid me good, where I have repaid you evil.
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.
You have declared today how you have done good to me, for you did not kill me when Yahweh had put me at your mercy.
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 safely? May Yahweh reward you with good for what you have done to me today.
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, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will 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 to me by Yahweh 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.
So David made an oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
