1 Samuel 24
1 And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told to him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.
And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.
3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
And he came to the sheepcotes, which were in his way. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave.
4 And the men of David said to him, Behold the day of which the LORD said to thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.
And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
After which David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
6 And he said to his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’S anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.
7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and permitted them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose out of the cave, and went on his way.
And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rising up out of the cave, went on his way.
8 David also rose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
And David also rose up after him: and going out of the cave cried after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him: and David bowing himself down to the ground, worshipped,
9 And David said to Saul, Why hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy harm?
And said to Saul: Why dost thou hear the words of men that say David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thy eyes have seen how the LORD hath delivered thee to day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but my eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.
Behold this day thy eyes have seen, that the Lord hath delivered thee into my hand, in the cave, and I had a thought to kill thee, but my eye hath spared thee. For I said: I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe in my hand, that when I cut, off the hem of thy robe, I would not put out my hand against thee. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in wait for my life, to take it away.
12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom dost thou come out, O king of Israel?
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.
15 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and judge my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
16 And it came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
And when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul said: Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded thee with evil.
And he said to David: Thou art more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil.
18 And thou hast showed this day how thou hast dealt with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.
And thou hast shewn this day what good things thou hast done to me: how the Lord delivered me into thy hand, and thou hast not killed me.
19 For if a man findeth his enemy, will he let him go away well? therefore the LORD reward thee with good for what thou hast done to me this day.
For who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go well away? But the Lord reward thee for this good turn, for what thou hast done to me this day.
20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.
And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand:
21 Swear now therefore to me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
Swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.
22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the strong hold.
And David swore to Saul. So Saul went home: and David and his men went up into safer places.
