1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul was turned from ye Philistims, they told him, saying, Behold, Dauid is in the wildernes of En-gedi.
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying: Lo! David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 Then Saul tooke three thousande chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seeke Dauid and his men vpon the rocks among the wilde goates.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men, out of all Israel, —and went to seek David and his men, over the face of the rocks of the mountain-goats.
3 And hee came to the sheepecoates by the way where there was a caue, and Saul went in to do his easement: and Dauid and his men sate in the inward parts of the caue.
And he came into the sheep-folds by the way, there, being a cave, which Saul entered, to cover his feet, —David and his men, in the hinder part of the cave, having taken up their abode.
4 And the men of Dauid said vnto him, See, the day is come, whereof the Lord sayde vnto thee, Beholde, I will deliuer thine enemie into thine hande, and thou shalt doe to him as it shall seeme good to thee. Then Dauid arose and cut off the lap of Sauls garment priuily.
So David’s men said unto him—Lo! the day of which Yahweh said unto thee—Lo! I am about to deliver up thine enemy, into thy hand: therefore shall thou do unto him, as shall be good in thine eyes. And David arose, and cut off the corner of the robe which belonged to Saul, by stealth.
5 And afterward Dauid was touched in his heart, because he had cut off the lappe which was on Sauls garment.
And it came to pass afterwards that David’s heart smote him, —because he had cut off the corner [of the robe] which belonged to Saul.
6 And he said vnto his men, The Lord keepe mee from doing that thing vnto my master the Lords Anoynted, to lay mine hand vpon him: for he is the Anoynted of the Lord.
And he said unto his men—Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should do this thing unto my lord, unto the Anointed of Yahweh, to thrust forth my hand against him, —for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!
7 So Dauid ouercame his seruants with these words, and suffered them not to arise against Saul: so Saul rose vp out of the caue and went away.
So David did chide his men with the words, and did not suffer them to rise up against Saul. And, Saul, rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 Dauid also arose afterward, and went out of the caue, and cryed after Saul, saying, O my lorde the King. And when Saul looked behinde him, Dauid inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himselfe.
Then David rose up, afterwards, and went forth out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying—My lord, O king! And, when Saul looked about behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.
9 And Dauid saide to Saul, Wherefore giuest thou an eare to mens words, that say, Behold, Dauid seeketh euill against thee?
Then said David to Saul, Wherefore shouldst thou hearken unto the words of the sons of earth, saying, —Lo! David is seeking thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes haue seene, that the Lord had deliuered thee this day into mine hand in the caue, and some bade me kill thee, but I had compassion on thee, and said, I will not lay mine hande on my master: for he is the Lordes Anoynted.
Lo! this day, have thine own eyes seen, how Yahweh had delivered thee up, to-day, into my hand in the cave, and, when one bade me slay thee, I looked with compassion upon thee, —and I said—I will not thrust forth my hand against my lord, for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!
11 Moreouer my father, behold: behold, I say, the lappe of thy garment in mine hand: for when I cut off the lappe of thy garment, I killed thee not. Vnderstad and see, that there is neither euil nor wickednesse in mee, neither haue I sinned against thee, yet thou huntest after my soule to take it.
But, 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 yet did not slay thee, know thou, and see, that there is not in my hand either wrong or transgression, neither have I sinned against thee, yet art thou hunting my life, to take it.
12 The Lord be iudge betweene thee and me, and the Lord auenge me of thee, and let not mine hand be vpon thee.
Let Yahweh do justice betwixt me and thee, and let Yahweh avenge me of thee, —but, mine own hand, shall not be upon thee.
13 According as the olde prouerbe sayeth, Wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked, but mine hand be not vpon thee.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the lawless, proceedeth lawlessness, —mine own hand, therefore shall not be upon thee.
14 After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whome doest thou pursue? after a dead dog, and after a flea?
After whom, hath the king of Israel come forth? After whom, art thou in pursuit? After a dead dog! after a single flea!
15 The Lord therfore be iudge, and iudge betweene thee and me, and see, and pleade my cause, and deliuer me out of thine hand.
Therefore shall, Yahweh, become, judge, and do justice betwixt me and thee, —that he may see, and plead my cause, and justly deliver me out of thy hand.
16 Whe Dauid had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul sayd, Is this thy voyce, my sonne Dauid? and Saul lift vp his voice, and wept,
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Thy voice, is this, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And sayd to Dauid, Thou art more righteous then I: for thou hast rendred me good, and I haue rendred thee euill.
And he said unto David, More righteous, art thou than I, for, thou, hast requited me, good, but, I, have requited thee, evil.
18 And thou hast shewed this day, that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had closed me in thine hands, thou killedst me not.
Thou, then, hast told to-day, how thou hast dealt with me, for good, —how, when Yahweh had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not slay me.
19 For who shall finde his enemie, and let him depart free? wherefore the Lord render thee good for that thou hast done vnto me this day.
Yet, when a man findeth his enemy, will he let him get easily away? Yahweh, then, give thee, good, reward for what, this day, thou hast done unto me.
20 For now behold, I know that thou shalt be King, and that the kingdome of Israel shall be stablished in thine hand.
Now, therefore, lo! I know that thou, shalt indeed become king, —and that the kingdom of Israel, shall be established in thy hand.
21 Sweare now therfore vnto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seede after me, and that thou wilt not abolish my name out of my fathers house.
Now, therefore, swear unto me by Yahweh, that thou wilt not eat off my seed, after me, —and wilt not destroy my name out of the house my father.
22 So Dauid sware vnto Saul, and Saul went home: but Dauid and his men went vp vnto ye hold.
So David sware unto Saul, —and Saul departed unto his own house, but, David and his men, went up on the stronghold.
