1 Samuel 24

1 After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”

2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3 Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.

4 So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.

6 So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

7 With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

8 After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence

9 and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?

10 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’

11 See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

12 May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.

14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”

16 When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud

17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

18 And you have declared this day how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.

19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.

20 Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

21 So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David [is] in the wilderness of Engedi.

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.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes 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.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the LORD.

7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But 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. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

9 ¶ And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and [some] bade [me] kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he [is] the LORD'S anointed.

11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, 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 mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after 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 thine hand.

16 ¶ And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21 Swear now therefore unto 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.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

2 And when Saul was come again from the Philistines, he was told, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

3 And Saul took three thousand young men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rock of the chamois.

4 And when he was come to the sheepcote by the way, there was a cave there: and Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men sat in the back of the cave.

5 And David's men said unto him, Behold, this is the day of which the LORD hath said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, and thou shalt do unto him as it pleaseth thee. And David arose, and quietly cut a corner of Saul's skirt.

6 But afterward his heart smote him, because he had cut off the tail of Saul,

7 And he said unto his men, Let this thing be far from me, that I should do it, and lay my hand upon my lord the LORD'S anointed: for he is the LORD'S anointed.

8 And David sent away his men with words, and suffered them not to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose out of the cave, and went by the way,

9 And afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave; and called after Saul in the rear, and said, My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him. And David bowed his face to the ground, and worshipped.

10 And said unto Saul, Why obeyest thou the word of men, which say, David seeketh thy mischief?

11 Behold, this day thine eyes see that the LORD hath delivered thee this day into mine hand in the cave, and it was said that I should slay thee. But thou wast spared, because I said: I will not lay my hand upon my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.

12 My father, behold the corner of thy skirt in mine hand, that I would not slay thee, when I cut off the corner of thy skirt. Know and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor any transgression. Neither have I sinned against thee: And thou huntest my soul to take it away.

13 The LORD will be judge between me and thee, and will avenge me on thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 As the old saying is, From the wicked cometh iniquity. But my hand shall not be upon thee.

15 Whom goest thou after, O king of Israel? Whom dost thou pursue? A dead dog, a few fleas?

16 Let the LORD be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see; and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

17 And when David had spoken these words unto Saul, Saul said, Is not this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

18 And he said unto David, Thou art more righteous than I. Thou hast proved me good, but I have proved thee evil.

19 And thou hast shewed me this day how thou hast done good unto me, how that the LORD had delivered me into thy hand, and yet thou hast not slain me.

20 How shall a man find his enemy, and let him go a good way? The LORD repay thee good for this day, which thou hast done unto me!

21 Now therefore, behold, I know that thou shalt be king, and the kingdom of Israel is in thine hand.

22 Now therefore swear unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, neither wipe out my name from my father's house.

23 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; and David and his men went up to the castle.