1 Samuel 24
1 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
And it came to pass, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying: Lo! David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men, out of all Israel, —and went to seek David and his men, over the face of the rocks of the mountain-goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave.
And he came into the sheep-folds by the way, there, being a cave, which Saul entered, to cover his feet, —David and his men, in the hinder part of the cave, having taken up their abode.
4 David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
So David’s men said unto him—Lo! the day of which Yahweh said unto thee—Lo! I am about to deliver up thine enemy, into thy hand: therefore shall thou do unto him, as shall be good in thine eyes. And David arose, and cut off the corner of the robe which belonged to Saul, by stealth.
5 Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
And it came to pass afterwards that David’s heart smote him, —because he had cut off the corner [of the robe] which belonged to Saul.
6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
And he said unto his men—Far be it from me, of Yahweh, that I should do this thing unto my lord, unto the Anointed of Yahweh, to thrust forth my hand against him, —for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!
7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
So David did chide his men with the words, and did not suffer them to rise up against Saul. And, Saul, rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
Then David rose up, afterwards, and went forth out of the cave, and cried out after Saul, saying—My lord, O king! And, when Saul looked about behind him, David inclined his face to the earth, and bowed himself down.
9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
Then said David to Saul, Wherefore shouldst thou hearken unto the words of the sons of earth, saying, —Lo! David is seeking thy hurt?
10 Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
Lo! this day, have thine own eyes seen, how Yahweh had delivered thee up, to-day, into my hand in the cave, and, when one bade me slay thee, I looked with compassion upon thee, —and I said—I will not thrust forth my hand against my lord, for, the Anointed of Yahweh, is he!
11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
But, my father, see, yea, see, the corner of thy robe in my hand, —for, in that I cut off the corner of thy robe, and yet did not slay thee, know thou, and see, that there is not in my hand either wrong or transgression, neither have I sinned against thee, yet art thou hunting my life, to take it.
12 May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
Let Yahweh do justice betwixt me and thee, and let Yahweh avenge me of thee, —but, mine own hand, shall not be upon thee.
13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, From the lawless, proceedeth lawlessness, —mine own hand, therefore shall not be upon thee.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
After whom, hath the king of Israel come forth? After whom, art thou in pursuit? After a dead dog! after a single flea!
15 May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
Therefore shall, Yahweh, become, judge, and do justice betwixt me and thee, —that he may see, and plead my cause, and justly deliver me out of thy hand.
16 It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Thy voice, is this, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
And he said unto David, More righteous, art thou than I, for, thou, hast requited me, good, but, I, have requited thee, evil.
18 You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
Thou, then, hast told to-day, how thou hast dealt with me, for good, —how, when Yahweh had surrendered me into thy hand, thou didst not slay me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to me today.
Yet, when a man findeth his enemy, will he let him get easily away? Yahweh, then, give thee, good, reward for what, this day, thou hast done unto me.
20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
Now, therefore, lo! I know that thou, shalt indeed become king, —and that the kingdom of Israel, shall be established in thy hand.
21 Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
Now, therefore, swear unto me by Yahweh, that thou wilt not eat off my seed, after me, —and wilt not destroy my name out of the house my father.
22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
So David sware unto Saul, —and Saul departed unto his own house, but, David and his men, went up on the stronghold.
