1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, it was reported to him, “David is in the Desert of En-gedi.”
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from pursuing the Philistines, that it was told to him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness 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 took Saul three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild 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 he came to the sheepfolds by the way, and there was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men were sitting in the lower end of the cave.
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 the men of David said unto him, Behold, this is the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. And David arose, and cut off the corner of the robe which Saul wore, unperceived.
5 But afterwards David felt really bad because he'd cut off a piece of Saul's robe.
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the corner of Saul's [robe].
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 he said unto his men, Far be it from me for the Lord's sake, that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him; because he is the anointed of the Lord.
7 He reprimanded his men and didn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul stood up and went on his way.
So David restrained his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, 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.
David also arose afterward, and went forth out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, My Lord, the king! And Saul then looked behind him, and David bowed his face to the earth, and prostrated himself.
9 “Why do you pay attention to people who say, ‘Watch out, David wants to harm you’?” David asked.
And David said to Saul, Wherefore wilt thou listen to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy injury?
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.’
Behold, this day thy eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee today into my hand in the cave, and some one said that I should kill thee: but my soul felt compassion for thee: and I said, I will not stretch forth my hand against my Lord; because he is the anointed of the Lord.
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 now, my father, see, yea, see the corner of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the corner of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and that I have not sinned against thee: yet thou liest in wait for my soul 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 judge between me and thee, and may the Lord avenge me on thee; but my hand shall not be against thee.
13 As the old saying goes, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but I myself will never try to harm you.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the wicked proceedeth wickedness; but my hand shall not be against thee.
14 Who is the king of Israel coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog! Just a flea!
After whom is the king of Israel gone out? after whom art thou pursuing? after a dead dog, after a single flea.
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.”
May the Lord therefore be judge, and decide between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and obtain me justice out of thy hand.
16 After David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, David my son?” and he wept out loud.
And it came to pass, When David had finished speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
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, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast done for me only what is good, whereas I have rewarded thee only with what is 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 thou hast proved this day, that thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when the Lord had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
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.
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go away on a good road? so may the Lord reward thee with good for what thou hast done unto me this day.
20 Listen, I know you definitely will be king, and your rule over the kingdom of Israel will be secure.
And now, behold, I know that thou wilt surely become king, and that the kingdom of Israel will stand firmly in thy hand.
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.”
And now swear unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
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 swore unto Saul; and Saul went to his house; but David and his men went up into the strong-hold.
