Chapter 24

And it came to pass, when Saul was returned¹ from following the Philistines, that it was told⁵⁵ him, saying,² Behold, David [is] in the wilderness of Engedi.

Then Saul took⁴ three thousand chosen⁷ men out of all Israel, and went⁴ to seek¹⁵ David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

And he came⁴ to the sheepcotes ⁶⁶²⁹ by the way, where [was] a cave; and Saul went in⁴ to cover⁵³ his feet: and David and his men remained⁶ in the sides of the cave.

And the men of David said⁴ unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said¹ unto thee, Behold, I will deliver⁶ thine enemy⁶ into thine hand, that thou mayest do¹ to him as it shall seem good⁴ unto thee. Then David arose,⁴ and cut off⁴ the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote⁵⁵ him, because he had cut off¹ Saul's skirt.

And he said⁴ unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do⁴ this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth² mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the LORD.

So David stayed¹⁷ his servants with these words, and suffered¹ them not to rise² against Saul. But Saul rose up¹ out of the cave, and went⁴ on [his] way.

David also arose⁴ afterward, and went out⁴ of the cave, and cried⁴ after Saul, saying,² My lord the king. And when Saul looked⁵⁵ behind him, David stooped⁴ with his face to the earth, and bowed¹⁰¹ himself.

And David said⁴ to Saul, Wherefore hearest⁴ thou men's words, saying,² Behold, David seeketh¹⁸ thy hurt?

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen¹ how that the LORD had delivered¹ thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and [some] bade¹ [me] kill² thee: but [mine eye] spared⁴ thee; and I said,⁴ I will not put forth⁴ mine hand against my lord; for he [is] the LORD'S anointed.

Moreover, my father, see,³ yea, see³ the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off² the skirt of thy robe, and killed¹ thee not, know³ thou and see³ that [there is] neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned¹ against thee; yet thou huntest⁶ my soul to take² it.

The LORD judge⁴ between me and thee, and the LORD avenge¹ me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

As saith⁴ the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth⁴ from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

After whom is the king of Israel come out?¹ after whom dost thou pursue?⁶ after a dead⁵ dog, after a flea.

The LORD therefore be judge, and judge¹ between me and thee, and see,⁴ and plead⁴ my cause, and deliver⁴ me out of thine hand.

And it came to pass, when David had made an end¹⁵ of speaking¹⁵ these words unto Saul, that Saul said,⁴ [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up⁴ his voice, and wept.⁴

And he said⁴ to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded¹ me good, whereas I have rewarded¹ thee evil.

And thou hast shewed⁵² this day how that thou hast dealt¹ well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered¹⁴ me into thine hand, thou killedst¹ me not.

For if a man find⁴ his enemy,⁶ will he let him go¹⁴ well away? wherefore the LORD reward¹⁷ thee good for that thou hast done¹ unto me this day.

And now, behold, I know¹ well that thou shalt surely² be king,⁴ and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established¹ in thine hand.

Swear¹⁰ now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off⁵⁵ my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy⁵⁵ my name out of my father's house.

And David sware¹¹ unto Saul. And Saul went⁴ home; but David and his men gat them up¹ unto the hold.