1 Samuel 24
1 And when Saul had returned after pursuing the Philistines, they reported to him, saying, “Behold, David is in the desert of Engedi.”
When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”
2 Therefore, Saul, taking three thousand elect men from all of Israel, traveled in order to search for David and his men, even upon the most broken rocks, which are passable only to mountain goats.
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.
3 And he arrived at the sheepfolds, which presented themselves along the way. And a cave was in that place, which Saul entered, so that he might ease his bowels. But David and his men were hiding in the interior part of the cave.
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.
4 And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy to you, so that you may do to him as it will be pleasing in your eyes.’” Then David rose up, and he quietly cut off the edge of Saul’s cloak.
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.
5 After this, his own heart struck David, because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s cloak.
Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off Saul's robe.
6 And he said to his men: “May the Lord be gracious to me, lest I do this thing to my lord, the Christ of the Lord, so that I lay my hand upon him. For he is the Christ of the Lord.”
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.”
7 And David restrained his men with his words, and he would not permit them to rise up against Saul. And so Saul, going out of the cave, continued to undertake his journey.
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.
8 Then David also rose up after him. And departing from the cave, he cried out behind the back of Saul, saying: “My lord, the king!” And Saul looked behind him. And David, bowing himself face down to the ground, reverenced.
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.
9 And he said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say: ‘David seeks evil against you?’
David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the men who say, 'See, David is seeking your harm?'
10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord has delivered you into my hand, in the cave. And I thought that I might kill you. But my eye has spared you. For I said: I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Christ of the Lord.
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.'
11 Moreover, see and know, O my father, the edge of your cloak in my hand. For though I cut off the top of your cloak, I was not willing to extend my hand against you. Turn your soul and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor any iniquity or sin against you. Yet you lie in wait for my life, so that you may take it away.
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.
12 May the Lord judge between me and you. And may the Lord vindicate me from you. But my hand will not be against you.
May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
13 So too, it is said in the ancient proverb, ‘From the impious, impiety will go forth.’ Therefore, my hand will not be upon you.
As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.
14 Whom are you pursuing, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? You are pursuing a dead dog, a single flea.
After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
15 May the Lord be the judge, and may he judge between me and you. And may he see and judge my case, and rescue me from your hand.”
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.”
16 And when David had completed speaking words in this way to Saul, Saul said, “Could this be your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice, and he wept.
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.
17 And he said to David: “You are more just than I am. For you have distributed good to me, but I have repaid evil to you.
He said to David, “You are more righteous than I am. For you have repaid me good, where I have repaid you evil.
18 And you have revealed this day the good that you have done for me: how the Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me.
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.
19 For who, when he will have found his enemy, will release him along a good path? So may the Lord repay you for this good turn, because you have acted on my behalf this day.
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.
20 And now I know certainly that you shall be king, and you shall have the kingdom of Israel in your hand.
Now, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21 Swear to me in the Lord that you will not take away my offspring after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.”
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.”
22 And David swore to Saul. Therefore, Saul went away to his own house. And David and his men ascended to places that were more secure.
So David made an oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
