1 Samuel 24

1AfterH834 SaulH7586 had returnedH7725 from pursuingH310 the PhilistinesH6430, he was toldH5046, “DavidH1732 is in the wildernessH4057 of En-gediH5872.” 2So SaulH7586 tookH3947 threeH7969 thousandH505 chosenH977 menH376 from allH3605 IsraelH3478 and wentH1980 to look forH1245 DavidH1732 and his menH582 inH5921 the regionH6440 of the RocksH6697 of the Wild GoatsH3277.

3Soon Saul cameH935 toH413 the sheepfoldsH6629H1448 alongH5921 the roadH1870, where there wasH8033 a caveH4631, and heH7586 went inH935 to relieveH5526 himselfH7272.1 And DavidH1732 and his menH582 were hidingH3427 in the recessesH3411 of the caveH4631. 4So David’sH1732 menH376 saidH559 to himH413, “This isH2009 the dayH3117 about whichH834 the LORDH3068 saidH559 to youH413, ‘BeholdH2009, IH595 will deliverH5414 your enemyH341 into your handH3027, that you may doH6213 with him asH834 you wishH3190H5869.’”

Then DavidH1732 crept upH6965 and stealthilyH3909 cut offH3772 a cornerH3671 of Saul’sH7586 robeH4598.

5

AfterwardH310H3651, David’sH1732 conscienceH3820 was strickenH5221 becauseH5921 he had cut offH3772 the cornerH3671 of Saul’s robeH7586. 6So he saidH559 to his menH582, “The LORDH3068 forbidH2486 thatH518 I should doH6213 suchH2088 a thingH1697 to my masterH113, the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899. May I never liftH7971 my handH3027 against him, sinceH3588 heH1931 is the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899.”

7With these wordsH1697 DavidH1732 restrainedH8156 his menH376, and he did notH3808 let themH5414 rise upH6965 againstH413 SaulH7586. Then SaulH7586 leftH6965 the caveH4631 and wentH1980 on his wayH1870.

8AfterH310 thatH3651, DavidH1732 got upH6965, went outH3318 ofH4480 the caveH4631, and called outH7121 toH310 SaulH7586H559, “My lordH113 the kingH4428!”

When SaulH7586 lookedH5027 behind himH310, DavidH1732 bowedH6915 facedownH639H776 in reverenceH7812 9andH1732 saidH559 to SaulH7586, “WhyH4100 do you listenH8085 to the wordsH1697 of menH120 who sayH559, ‘LookH2009, DavidH1732 intendsH1245 to harm youH7451’? 10BeholdH2009, thisH2088 dayH3117 you have seenH7200 with your own eyesH5869 thatH834 the LORDH3068H3117 delivered youH5414 into my handH3027 in the caveH4631. I was toldH559 to kill youH2026, but I sparedH2347 youH5921 and saidH559, ‘I will notH3808 liftH7971 my handH3027 against my lordH113, sinceH3588 heH1931 is the LORD’sH3068 anointedH4899.’

11SeeH7200H1571, my fatherH1, lookH7200 at the cornerH3671 of your robeH4598 in my handH3027. ForH3588 I cut itH3671H4598 offH3772, but I did notH3808 kill youH2026. KnowH3045 and seeH7200 thatH3588 there is noH369 evilH7451 or rebellionH6588 in my handsH3027. I have notH3808 sinnedH2398 against you, even though youH859 are hunting me downH6658 to takeH3947 my lifeH5315.

12May the LORDH3068 judgeH8199 between you and meH996, and may the LORDH3068 take vengeanceH5358 on youH4480, but my handH3027 will neverH3808 beH1961 against you. 13AsH834 the oldH6931 proverbH4912 saysH559, ‘WickednessH7562 proceedsH3318 from the wickedH7563.’ But my handH3027 will neverH3808 beH1961 against you.

14AgainstH310 whomH4310 has the kingH4428 of IsraelH3478 come outH3318H310? WhomH4310 are youH859 pursuingH7291H310? A deadH4191H310 dogH3611? AH259 fleaH6550? 15May the LORDH3068 beH1961 our judgeH1781 and decideH8199 between you and meH996. May He take noticeH7200 and pleadH7378 my caseH7379 and deliver meH8199 from your handH3027.”

16

David’s Oath to Saul

When DavidH1732 had finishedH3615 sayingH1696 theseH428 thingsH1697, SaulH7586 called backH559, “Is thatH2088 your voiceH6963, DavidH1732 my sonH1121?”

Then SaulH7586 weptH1058 aloudH5375H6963 17and saidH559 toH413 DavidH1732, “YouH859 are more righteousH6662 than IH4480, forH3588 youH859 have rewarded meH1580 with goodH2896, though IH589 have rewarded youH1580 with evilH7451. 18And youH859 have declaredH5046 this dayH3117 howH834 you have treatedH6213 meH854 wellH2896, for whenH834 the LORDH3068 delivered meH5462 into your handH3027, you did notH3808 kill meH2026. 19WhenH3588 a manH376 findsH4672 his enemyH341, does he let him goH7971 awayH1870 unharmedH2896? May the LORDH3068 reward youH7999 with goodH2896 forH8478 whatH834 you have doneH6213 for me thisH2088 dayH3117.

20NowH6258 I knowH3045H3588 for sure thatH2009 you will be kingH4427 and that the kingdomH4467 of IsraelH3478 will be establishedH6965 in your handsH3027. 21So nowH6258, swearH7650 to me by the LORDH3068 that you will notH518 cut offH3772 my descendantsH2233H310H518 or wipe outH8045 my nameH8034 from my father’sH1 houseH1004.”

22So DavidH1732 gave his oathH7650 to SaulH7586. Then SaulH7586H413 returnedH1980 homeH1004, but DavidH1732 and his menH376 went upH5927 toH5921 the strongholdH4686.