1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, it was reported to him, “David is in the Desert 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 specially-picked men from all Israel and went searching for David and his men in the area around Wild Goats' Rocks.
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.
As Saul passed the sheep pens on the way, there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were hiding deep inside 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.
David's men said to him, “Today's the day the Lord promised you when he told you, ‘Listen, I'm going to hand over your enemy to you, so you can do to him whatever you want.’” Then David crept up quietly and cut a piece from the edge of Saul's robe.
5 Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off Saul's robe.
But afterwards David felt really bad because he'd cut off a piece 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.”
He told his men, “May the Lord prevent me from doing anything like this to my master, the Lord's anointed one. I will never attack him, for he is the Lord's anointed one.”
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.
He reprimanded his men and didn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul stood up 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.
A little later David came out of the cave and shouted, “My master the king!” When Saul looked around, David bowed down with his face to the ground.
9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the men who say, 'See, David is seeking your harm?'
“Why do you pay attention to people who say, ‘Watch out, David wants to harm you’?” David asked.
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.'
“Just look! You've seen with your own eyes today that the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I showed you compassion, and said, ‘I refuse to attack my master, for he is the Lord's anointed one.’
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.
Take a look, my father! You see this piece of your robe I'm holding. Yes, I did I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Now you can see for yourself and you can be sure that I have done nothing evil or rebellious. I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me.
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 decide between you and me as to who of us is right, and may the Lord punish you, but I myself will never try to harm 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 saying goes, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but I myself will never try to harm you.
14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
Who is the king of Israel coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog! Just 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 decide and choose between you and me. May he pay attention to my case and support it; may he save me from you.”
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.
After David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that you speaking, David my son?” and he wept out loud.
17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I am. For you have repaid me good, where I have repaid you evil.
He told David, “You are a better person than I am, because you have repaid me with good, but I have repaid 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.
Today you have demonstrated how well you have treated me—for when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn't 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.
For if a man caught hold of his enemy, would he let him escape unharmed? The Lord reward you well for how you've treated me today.
20 Now, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
Listen, I know you definitely will be king, and your rule over the kingdom of Israel will be secure.
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.”
Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not destroy my descendants who follow me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my family line.”
22 So David made an oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went back home, but David and his men returned to the stronghold.
