24 When Saul had finished fighting against the Philistines, he returned to his home. Someone told him that David was in the desert at En Gedi. 2 So Saul chose 3,000 of the best soldiers in Israel. They went to look for David and his men near Wild Goat Rocks.
3 Saul came to the place near the road where the shepherds keep their sheep. There was a cave near to this place. Saul went in there to use it as a toilet.
David and his men were hiding at the back of the same cave. 4 David's men said to him, ‘This is the day that the Lord told you about! The Lord said to you, “I will give your enemy to you. Then you can decide what is the right thing to do to him.” ’ So David stood up very quietly. He went and he cut off a small piece of cloth from Saul's coat. Saul did not know what had happened.
5 After that, David thought that he had done something wrong. He felt sorry that he had cut a piece of cloth from Saul's coat. 6 David said to his men, ‘I ask the Lord to stop me doing anything wrong to my master. The Lord has chosen him to be Israel's king. I must never do anything to hurt him. He is the king that the Lord has chosen.’ 7 David spoke like this to stop his men from attacking Saul.
Then Saul left the cave and he started to travel along the road.
8 After that, David went out of the cave. He shouted to Saul, ‘My master and my king!’ Saul looked behind him. David went down on his knees with his face on the ground to respect the king. 9 David said to Saul, ‘You should not listen to the people who say, “David wants to hurt you.” 10 You can see that the Lord has kept you safe today when I had a chance to hurt you in the cave. Some of my men wanted me to kill you, but I did not agree. I said, “I will not hurt my master, because the Lord has chosen him to be king.” 11 My father, look at what I have in my hand! It is a small piece of your coat. I cut this off the corner of your coat, but I did not kill you. So you must know that I do not want to do anything bad against you. I have not turned against you. I am not guilty of anything, but you are chasing after me so that you can kill me. 12 The Lord is the judge who will decide which of us is guilty. I pray that he will punish you for what you are doing to me. But I myself will never do anything to hurt you. 13 You know the proverb, “Evil people do evil things.” But I will never try to hurt you. 14 You are Israel's king. So why are you chasing after someone like me? I am less important than a dead dog or a little fly! 15 The Lord will be the judge to decide who is right. I pray that he will see that I am not guilty. I pray that he will save me from your power.’
16 When David stopped speaking, Saul said, ‘Is that really you, David my son?’ Then Saul started to weep loudly. 17 He said to David, ‘You are a better man than I am. You have been kind to me even when I have tried to hurt you. 18 You have shown me today how kind you have been to me. The Lord gave you a chance to hurt me, but you did not kill me. 19 If someone catches his enemy, he does not let him escape. But you have not tried to hurt me today. So I ask that the Lord will bless you in return. 20 I know that you will be the king of Israel one day. The kingdom will be strong when you rule. 21 So promise me in the Lord 's name that you will not kill any of my descendants. Please make sure that people do not forget my family's name.’
22 So David made a strong promise to Saul. Then Saul returned to his home. But David and his men went back to the place where they had been hiding.
24 After Saul had chased the Philistines away, people told him, “David is in the desert area near En Gedi.”
2 So Saul chose 3000 men from all over Israel and began searching for David and his men. They looked near Wild Goat Rocks. 3 Saul came to some sheep pens beside the road. There was a cave near there, so Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were deep inside that same cave. 4 David’s men told him, “This is day the Lord told you about when he said, ‘I will give your enemy to you, and you can do whatever you want to him.’”
So David crawled closer and closer to Saul and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Saul didn’t notice what happened. 5 Later, David felt bad about what he did. 6 He said to his men, “I pray the Lord never lets me do anything like that to my master again. I must not do anything against Saul, because he is the Lord ’s chosen king. [ a ] ” 7 David said these things to stop his men. He would not let his men hurt Saul.
Saul left the cave and went on his way. 8 Later, David came out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!”
Saul looked back. David bowed with his face to the ground to show his respect. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen when people say, ‘David plans to hurt you’? 10 You can see that with your own eyes that is not true. The Lord put you within my grasp today in the cave, but I refused to kill you. I was merciful to you. I said, ‘I won’t hurt my master. Saul is the Lord ’s chosen king.’ 11 Look at this piece of cloth in my hand. I cut off the corner of your robe. I could have killed you, but I didn’t. Now, I want you to understand this. I want you to know that I am not planning anything against you. I did nothing wrong to you, but you are hunting me and trying to kill me. 12 Let the Lord be the judge. I hope the Lord will punish you for the wrong you did to me, but I won’t fight you myself. 13 There is an old saying:
‘Bad things come from bad people.’
“I haven’t done anything bad, and I won’t hurt you. 14 Who are you chasing? Did the king of Israel bring an army to chase a single flea or a dying dog? 15 Let the Lord be the judge. Let him decide between you and me. He will support me and show that I am right. He will save me from you.”
16 When David finished speaking, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul lifted his voice and began to cry. 17 He said, “You are right, and I am wrong. You were good to me, even though I have been bad to you. 18 You yourself said it when you told me about the good things you did. The Lord put my life in your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 This shows that you are not my enemy. A man doesn’t catch his enemy, and then just let him go. He doesn’t do good things for his enemy. May the Lord reward you for being good to me today. 20 Now, I know that you will become the new king. You will rule the kingdom of Israel. 21 Now make a promise to me with an oath using the Lord ’s name. Promise that you will not kill my descendants, even after I die. Promise me that you will not erase my name from my father’s family.”
22 So David made a promise to Saul. He promised that he would not kill Saul’s family. Then Saul went back home. David and his men went back up to the fort.
24 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.
24 [ a ] Now ( A ) when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, ( B ) it was reported to him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then ( C ) Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul ( D ) went in to [ b ] relieve himself. Now ( E ) David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4 Then David’s men said to him, “Behold, ( F ) this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; ( G ) I am about to hand your enemy over to you, and you shall do to him as it seems good [ c ] to you.’” Then David got up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5 But it came about afterward that ( H ) David’s [ d ] conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe . 6 So he said to his men, “ ( I ) Far be it from me because of the Lord that I would do this thing to my lord, the Lord ’ s anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the Lord ’ s anointed.” 7 And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, [ e ] left the cave, and went on his way.
8 Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, ( J ) David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men [ f ] who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking [ g ] to harm you’? 10 ( K ) Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and ( L ) someone said to kill you, but [ h ] I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord ’ s anointed.’ 11 So, ( M ) my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or [ i ] rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you ( N ) are lying in wait for my life, to take it. 12 ( O ) May the Lord judge between [ j ] you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘ ( P ) Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? ( Q ) A dead dog, ( R ) a single flea? 15 May ( S ) the Lord therefore be judge and decide between [ k ] you and me; and may He see and ( T ) plead my cause and save me from your hand.”
16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “ ( U ) Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul raised his voice and wept. 17 ( V ) And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for ( W ) you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you. 18 You have declared today that you have done good to me, that ( X ) the Lord handed me over to you and yet you did not kill me. 19 Though if a man ( Y ) finds his enemy, will he let him go away [ l ] unharmed? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20 Now, behold, ( Z ) I know that you will certainly be king, and that ( AA ) the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 So now ( AB ) swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my [ m ] descendants after me, and that you will not eliminate my name from my father’s household.” 22 And David swore an oath to Saul. Then Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to ( AC ) the stronghold.
24 [ a ] After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi. ( A ) ” 2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look ( B ) for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave ( C ) was there, and Saul went in to relieve ( D ) himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke ( E ) of when he said [ b ] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” ( F ) Then David crept up unnoticed and cut ( G ) off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken ( H ) for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord ’s anointed, ( I ) or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord .” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. ( J ) 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen ( K ) when men say, ‘David is bent on harming ( L ) you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared ( M ) you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord ’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut ( N ) off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty ( O ) of wrongdoing ( P ) or rebellion. I have not wronged ( Q ) you, but you are hunting ( R ) me down to take my life. ( S ) 12 May the Lord judge ( T ) between you and me. And may the Lord avenge ( U ) the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds, ( V ) ’ so my hand will not touch you.
14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? ( W ) A flea? ( X ) 15 May the Lord be our judge ( Y ) and decide ( Z ) between us. May he consider my cause and uphold ( AA ) it; may he vindicate ( AB ) me by delivering ( AC ) me from your hand.”
16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, ( AD ) David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” ( AE ) he said. “You have treated me well, ( AF ) but I have treated you badly. ( AG ) 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered ( AH ) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward ( AI ) you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king ( AJ ) and that the kingdom ( AK ) of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear ( AL ) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family. ( AM ) ”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. ( AN )
