1 Samuel, 24

1. From there David went up and installed himself in the strongholds of En-Gedi.

1. When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-ge'di."

2. Once Saul was back from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 'David is now in the desert of En-Gedi.'

2. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks.

3. Saul thereupon took three thousand men selected from all Israel and went in search of David and his men east of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats.

3. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.

4. He came to the sheepfolds along the route, where there was a cave, and went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave;

4. And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, `Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe.

5. David's men said to him, 'Today is the day of which Yahweh said to you, "I shall deliver your enemy into your power; do what you like with him." ' David got up and, unobserved, cut off the border of Saul's cloak.

5. And afterward David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6. Afterwards David reproached himself for having cut off the border of Saul's cloak.

6. He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD'S anointed."

7. He said to his men, 'Yahweh preserve me from doing such a thing to my lord as to raise my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.'

7. So David persuaded his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave, and went upon his way.

8. By these words David restrained his men and would not let them attack Saul.

8. Afterward David also arose, and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.

9. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. After this, David too left the cave and called after Saul, 'My lord king!' Saul looked behind him and David, bowing to the ground, prostrated himself.

9. And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, `Behold, David seeks your hurt'?

10. David then said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to people who say, "David intends your ruin"?

10. Lo, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave; and some bade me kill you, but I spared you. I said, `I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.'

11. This very day you have seen for yourself how Yahweh put you in my power in the cave and how, refusing to kill you, I spared you saying, "I will not raise my hand against my lord, since he is Yahweh's anointed."

11. See, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.

12. Look, father, look at the border of your cloak in my hand. Since, although I cut the border off your cloak, I did not kill you, surely you realise that I intend neither mischief nor crime. I have not wronged you, and yet you hunt me down to take my life.

12. May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me upon you; but my hand shall not be against you.

13. May Yahweh be judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but I shall never lay a hand on you!

13. As the proverb of the ancients says, `Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.

14. (As the old proverb says: Wickedness comes out of wicked people, but I shall never lay a hand on you!)

14. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!

15. On whose trail is the king of Israel campaigning? Whom are you pursuing? On the trail of a dead dog, of a flea!

15. May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see to it, and plead my cause, and deliver me from your hand."

16. May Yahweh be the judge and decide between me and you; may he examine and defend my cause and give judgement for me by rescuing me from your clutches!'

16. When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17. When David had finished saying this to Saul, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' And Saul began to weep aloud.

17. He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.

18. 'You are upright and I am not,' he said to David, 'since you have behaved well to me, whereas I have behaved badly to you.

18. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands.

19. And today you have shown how well you have behaved to me, since Yahweh had put me in your power but you did not kill me.

19. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

20. When a man comes on his enemy, does he let him go unmolested? May Yahweh reward you for the good you have done me today!

20. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

21. Now I know that you will indeed reign and that the sovereignty in Israel will pass into your hands.

21. Swear to me therefore by the LORD 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. Now swear to me by Yahweh that you will not suppress my descendants once I am gone, or blot my name out of my family.'

22. And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

23. This David swore to Saul, and Saul went home while David and his men went back to the stronghold.

23.