1 Samuel 24
1 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.'
And it came to pass when Saul returned from pursuing after the Philistines, that it was reported to him, saying, David [is] in the wilderness of Engaddi.
2 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,
And he took with him three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of Saddaeem.
3 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.
And he came to the flocks of sheep that were by the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make preparation, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part of the cave.
4 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.
And the men of David said to him, Behold, this [is] the day of which the Lord spoke to you, that he would deliver your enemy into your hands; and you shall do to him as [it is] good in your sight. So David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's garment secretly.
5 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,
And it came to pass after this that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off the skirt of his garment.
6 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].'
And David said to his men, The Lord forbid it me, that I should do this ting to my lord the anointed of the Lord, to lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.
7 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;
So David persuaded his men by [his] words, and did not suffer them to arise and kill Saul: and Saul arose and went his way.
8 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.
And David rose up [and went] after him out of the cave: and David cried after Saul, saying, [My] lord, [O] king! and Saul looked behind him, and David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance to him.
9 And David saith to Saul, 'Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?
And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of the people, saying, Behold, David seeks your life?
10 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].
Behold, your eyes have seen this day how that the Lord has delivered you this day into my hands in the cave; and I would not kill you, but spared you, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.
11 '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!
And behold, the skirt of your mantle [is] in my hand, I cut off the skirt, and did not kill you: know then and see today, there is no evil in my hand, nor impiety, nor rebellion; and I have not sinned against you, yet you lay snares for my soul to take it.
12 'Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;
The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord requite you on yourself: but my hand shall not be upon you.
13 as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.
As the old proverb says, Transgression will proceed from the wicked ones: but my hand shall not be upon you.
14 'After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing? — after a dead dog! after one flea!
And now after whom do you come forth, O king of Israel? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, and after a flea?
15 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.'
The Lord be judge and umpire between me and you, the Lord look upon and judge my cause, and rescue me out of your hand.
16 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.
And it came to pass when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this your voice, Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17 And he saith unto David, 'More righteous thou [art] than I; for thou hast done me good, and I have done thee evil;
And Saul said to David, You [are] more righteous that I, for you have recompensed me good, but I have recompensed you evil.
18 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,
And you have told me today what good you have done me, how the Lord shut me up into your hands today, and you did not kill me.
19 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.
And if any one should find his enemy in distress, and should send him forth in a good way, then the Lord will reward him good, as you has done this day.
20 'And, now, lo, I have known that thou dost certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel hath stood in thy hand;
And now, behold, I know that you shall surely reign, and the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
21 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.'
Now then swear to me by the Lord, that you will not destroy my seed after me, that you will not blot out my name from the house of my father.
22 And David sweareth to Saul, and Saul goeth unto his house, and David and his men have gone up unto the fortress.
So David swore to Saul: and Saul departed to his place, and David and his men went up to the strong-hold of Messera.
