1 Samuel, 24

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

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. 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 upon the rocks of the wild goats.

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 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. 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 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. 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 it came to pass afterward, that 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. 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. 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 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. By these words David restrained his men and would not let them attack Saul.

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. 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, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

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

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

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

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

14. After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou 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. 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. 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. 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. When David had finished saying this to Saul, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' And Saul began to weep aloud.

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. '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 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. 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 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. 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 well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

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

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

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

23.