1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
And it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, 'Lo, 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.
And Saul taketh three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and goeth to seek David and his men, on the front 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.
and he cometh in unto folds of the flock, on the way, and there [is] a cave, and Saul goeth in to cover his feet; and David and his men in the sides of the cave are abiding.
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.
And the men of David say unto him, 'Lo, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Lo, I am giving thine enemy into thy hand, and thou hast done to him as it is good in thine eyes;' and David riseth and cutteth off the skirt of the upper robe which [is] on Saul — gently.
5 Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off Saul's robe.
And it cometh to pass afterwards that the heart of David smiteth him, because that he hath cut off the skirt which [is] on Saul,
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.”
and he saith to his men, 'Far be it from me, by Jehovah; I do not do this thing to my lord — to the anointed of Jehovah — to put forth my hand against him, for the anointed of Jehovah he [is].'
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.
And David subdueth his men by words, and hath not permitted them to rise against Saul; and Saul hath risen from the cave, and goeth on the 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.
and David riseth afterwards, and goeth out from the cave, and calleth after Saul, saying, 'My lord, O king!' And Saul looketh attentively behind him, and David boweth — face to the earth — and doth obeisance.
9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the men who say, 'See, David is seeking your harm?'
And David saith to Saul, 'Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?
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.'
Lo, this day have thine eyes seen how that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and [one] said to slay thee, and [mine eye] hath pity on thee, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Jehovah he [is].
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.
'And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of thine upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of thy upper robe, and I have not slain thee, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against thee, and thou art hunting my soul to take it!
12 May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
'Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.
as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.
14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
'After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing? — after a dead dog! after one 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.”
And Jehovah hath been for judge, and hath judged between me and thee, yea, he seeth and pleadeth my cause, and doth deliver me out of thy 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.
And it cometh to pass, when David completeth to speak these words unto Saul, that Saul saith, 'Is this thy voice, my son David?' and Saul lifteth up his voice, and weepeth.
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 he saith unto David, 'More righteous thou [art] than I; for thou hast done me good, and I have done thee 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 thou hast declared to-day how that thou hast done good with me, how that Jehovah shut me up into thy hand, and thou didst not slay 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.
and that a man doth find his enemy, and hath sent him away in a good manner; and Jehovah doth repay thee good for that which thou didst to 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.
'And, now, lo, I have known that thou dost certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel hath stood in thy hand;
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.”
and, now, swear to me by Jehovah — thou dost not cut off my seed after me, nor dost thou destroy my name from the house of my father.'
22 So David made an oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
And David sweareth to Saul, and Saul goeth unto his house, and David and his men have gone up unto the fortress.
