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 En-gedi.
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 out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon 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 And he came to the sheep-cotes 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.
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 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 privately cut off the skirt 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 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
But afterwards David felt really bad because he'd cut off a piece 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.
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 restrained his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose out of 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 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.
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 And David said to Saul, Why hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
“Why do you pay attention to people who say, ‘Watch out, David wants to harm you’?” David asked.
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.
“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 Moreover, my father, see, yes, 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.
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 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
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 saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
As the old saying goes, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness,’ but I myself will never try to harm you.
14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou 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 The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy 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 And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And 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 And he said to David, thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded thee with 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 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.
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 findeth his enemy, will he let him go away well? wherefore the LORD reward thee with good, for what thou hast done to me this day.
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 And now, behold, I know well that thou wilt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in thy hand.
Listen, I know you definitely will be king, and your rule over the kingdom of Israel will be secure.
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.
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 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men repaired to the hold.
So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went back home, but David and his men returned to the stronghold.
