1 Samuel 24
1 And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi.
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 Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to 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 sheepcotes, which were in his way. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid 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 abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
4 And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
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 After which David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
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: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.
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 stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rising up out of the cave, 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 And David also rose up after him: and going out of the cave cried after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him: and David bowing himself down to the ground, worshipped,
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 said to Saul: Why dost thou hear the words of men that say David seeketh thy hurt?
David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Look, David seeks your harm?'
10 Behold this day thy eyes have seen, that the Lord hath delivered thee into my hand, in the cave, and I had a thought to kill thee, but my eye hath spared thee. For I said: I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.
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 Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe in my hand, that when I cut, off the hem of thy robe, I would not put out my hand against thee. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in wait for my life, to take it away.
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 The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord revenge 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 also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom dost thou come out, O king of Israel?
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 dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, or one flea?
15 Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and judge my cause, and deliver 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 when David had made an end of 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 just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with 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 shewn this day what good things thou hast done to me: how the Lord delivered me into thy hand, and thou hast not killed 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 who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? But the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what 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 as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel 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 to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.
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. So Saul went home: and David and his men went up into safer places.
David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
