1 Samuel 24
1 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."
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off an edge 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 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."
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 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.
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 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.
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 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Look, David seeks your harm?'
And David said to Saul, Wherefore wilt thou listen to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy injury?
10 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.'
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 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.
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 judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on 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 proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the wicked proceedeth wickedness; but my hand shall not be against thee.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, or one 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 therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand."
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 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.
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 said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
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 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.
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 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.
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 Now, look, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
And now, behold, I know that thou wilt surely become king, and that the kingdom of Israel will stand firmly in thy hand.
21 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."
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 David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up 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.
