1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, it was reported to him, “David is in the Desert of En-gedi.”
Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
2 So Saul took three thousand specially-picked men from all Israel and went searching for David and his men in the area around Wild Goats' Rocks.
Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
3 As Saul passed the sheep pens on the way, there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding deep inside the cave.
And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
4 David's men said to him, “Today's the day the Lord promised you when he told you, ‘Listen, I'm going to hand over your enemy to you, so you can do to him whatever you want.’” Then David crept up quietly and cut a piece from the edge of Saul's robe.
And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
5 But afterwards David felt really bad because he'd cut off a piece of Saul's robe.
And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
6 He told his men, “May the Lord prevent me from doing anything like this to my master, the Lord's anointed one. I will never attack him, for he is the Lord's anointed one.”
And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
7 He reprimanded his men and didn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul stood up and went on his way.
So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
8 A little later David came out of the cave and shouted, “My master the king!” When Saul looked around, David bowed down with his face to the ground.
And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
9 “Why do you pay attention to people who say, ‘Watch out, David wants to harm you’?” David asked.
And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
10 “Just look! You've seen with your own eyes today that the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I showed you compassion, and said, ‘I refuse to attack my master, for he is the Lord's anointed one.’
Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
11 Take a look, my father! You see this piece of your robe I'm holding. Yes, I did I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Now you can see for yourself and you can be sure that I have done nothing evil or rebellious. I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me.
And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
12 May the Lord decide between you and me as to who of us is right, and may the Lord punish you, but I myself will never try to harm you.
May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
13 As the old saying goes, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but I myself will never try to harm you.
There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
14 Who is the king of Israel coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog! Just a flea!
After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
15 May the Lord decide and choose between you and me. May he pay attention to my case and support it; may he save me from you.”
So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
16 After David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, David my son?” and he wept out loud.
Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
17 He told David, “You are a better person than I am, because you have repaid me with good, but I have repaid you with evil.
And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
18 Today you have demonstrated how well you have treated me—for when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn't kill me.
And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
19 For if a man caught hold of his enemy, would he let him escape unharmed? The Lord reward you well for how you've treated me today.
If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
20 Listen, I know you definitely will be king, and your rule over the kingdom of Israel will be secure.
And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my descendants who follow me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my family line.”
So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went back home, but David and his men returned to the stronghold.
And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.
