1S 24:1And when Saul returned from following the Philistines, some told him, saying, David is now in the wilderness of En-gedi.
1S 24:2And Saul took three thousand choice men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
1S 24:3And he came to the sheepfolds along the way, and a cave was there. And Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost part of the cave.
1S 24:4And David’s men said to him, The day is here of which Jehovah said to you, I am about to give your enemy into your hand. Do then to him according to what seems good in your sight. So David rose up and cut off a corner of Saul’s cloak without being noticed.
1S 24:5But afterward David’s heart smote him because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s cloak.
1S 24:6And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, Jehovah’s anointed, as stretch out my hand against him; for he is Jehovah’s anointed.
1S 24:7So David checked his men with these words and would not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way.
1S 24:8Then David rose up afterward and came out of the cave. And he called after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and paid him homage.
1S 24:9And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to men’s words that say, David now seeks your harm?
1S 24:10Just this day your eyes have seen that Jehovah gave you into my hand today in the cave. And though some told me to kill you, I spared you and said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Jehovah’s anointed.
1S 24:11Now my father, look, indeed, look at the corner of your cloak in my hand; for in that I cut off the corner of your cloak and did not kill you, know and see that there is no harm or transgression in my hand. And though I have not sinned against you, you hunt after my life in order to take it.
1S 24:12May Jehovah judge between me and you, and may Jehovah avenge me of you; but my hand will not be against you.
1S 24:13As the proverb of the ancients says, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand will not be against you.
1S 24:14After whom does the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog; a single flea.
1S 24:15May Jehovah then be Judge and decide between me and you. And may He see and plead my cause and release me through His judgment out of your hand.
1S 24:16And when David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
1S 24:17And he said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me with good, while I have repaid you with evil.
1S 24:18And you have declared today how you did good to me, because Jehovah delivered me up into your hand, but you would not kill me.
1S 24:19For if a man finds his enemy, will he send him away safely? May Jehovah therefore reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
1S 24:20And now I indeed know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
1S 24:21Now therefore swear to me by Jehovah that you will not cut off my seed after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.
1S 24:22So David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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