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."
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “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.
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of 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.
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
4 The men of David said to him, "Look, the day of which Jehovah 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.
So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe.
Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
6 He said to his men, "Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Jehovah's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is Jehovah's anointed."
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
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.
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left 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.
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Look, David seeks your harm?'
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10 Look, this day your eyes have seen how that Jehovah 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 Jehovah's anointed.'
Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
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.
See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12 May Jehovah judge between me and you, and may Jehovah avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you.
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, or one flea?
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 May Jehovah 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 be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your 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.
When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
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 said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that Jehovah had delivered me up into your hand and you did not kill me.
And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Jehovah reward you good for that which you have done this day.
When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for 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.
Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21 Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."
So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
