1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
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 from 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 sheep pens on the way, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting far back in 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 David's men said to him, “This is the day of which Yahweh spoke when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, for you to do with him as you wish.'” Then David arose and quietly crept forward and cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
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 Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off 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, “May Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Yahweh's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh'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 rebuked his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. Saul stood up, left the cave, and went on his way.
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 stood up, left the cave, and called out after Saul: “My master the king.” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and showed him respect.
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 the men who say, 'See, David is seeking your harm?'
and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10 Today your eyes have seen how Yahweh put you into my hand when we were in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my master; for he is Yahweh'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 See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, even though you hunt 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 Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against 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 wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.
As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 May Yahweh be judge and give judgment between you and me, and see to it, and plead my cause and permit me to escape from 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 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, 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 am. For you have repaid me good, where I have repaid you evil.
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 You have declared today how you have done good to me, for you did not kill me when Yahweh had put me at your mercy.
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 safely? May Yahweh reward you with good for what you have done to me today.
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, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will 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 to me by Yahweh 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 So David made an oath to Saul. Then 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.
