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."
Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land 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 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 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 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 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 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 It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe.
And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Look, David seeks your harm?'
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 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.'
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 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 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 judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on 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 proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you.
There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, or one 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 therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you. May he see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand."
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 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.
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 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, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you 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 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 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.
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 Now, look, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
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."
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 David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up 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.
