Revised Literal Translation

1 Samuel 24

1And it came to pass, when Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586was returnedשָׁ֣בshavH7725from followingמֵאַחֲרֵ֖יme.'a.cha.ReiH310the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430,that it was toldוַיַּגִּ֤דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046him, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Behold, DavidH1732isin the wildernessבְּמִדְבַּ֖רbe.mid.BarH4057of En–gediH5872.

2Then SaulH7586tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947threeשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969thousandאֲלָפִ֛ים'a.la.FimH505chosenבָּח֖וּרba.ChurH977menאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376out of all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and wentH3212to seekלְבַקֵּ֤שׁle.va.KeshH1245DavidH1732and his menוַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יוva.'a.na.ShavH582uponפְּנֵ֖יpe.NeiH6440the rocksצוּרֵ֥יtzu.ReiH6697of the wild goatsהַיְּעֵלִֽים׃hai.ye.'e.LimH3277.

3And he cameוַ֠יָּבֹאVai.ya.vo'H935to the sheepcotesגִּדְר֨וֹת הַצֹּ֤אןgid.Rot ha.TzonH6629 H1448by the wayהַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ha.De.rekhH1870, where wasa caveמְעָרָ֔הme.'a.RahH4631;and SaulH7586went inוַיָּבֹ֥אvai.ya.Vo'H935to coverלְהָסֵ֣ךְle.ha.SekhH5526his feetרַגְלָ֑יוrag.LavH7272:and DavidH1732and his menH582remainedיֹשְׁבִֽים׃yo.she.VimH3427in the sidesבְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥יbe.yar.ke.TeiH3411of the caveהַמְּעָרָ֖הha.me.'a.RahH4631.

4And the menH582of DavidH1732saidוַיֹּאמְרוּ֩vai.yo.me.RuH559unto him, Behold the dayהַיּ֜וֹםhai.YomH3117of which Yhwhיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068saidאָמַ֧ר'a.MarH559unto thee, Behold, I will deliverנֹתֵ֤ןno.TenH5414thine enemyאֹֽיִבְךָ֙'o.ye.vei.khaH341into thine handבְּיָדֶ֔ךָbe.ya.De.khaH3027,that thou mayest doוְעָשִׂ֣יתָve.'a.Si.taH6213to him as it shall seem goodיִטַ֣בyi.TavH3190unto theeבְּעֵינֶ֑יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869.Then DavidH1732aroseוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965,and cut offוַיִּכְרֹ֛תvai.yikh.RotH3772the skirtכְּנַֽף־ke.naf-H3671of Saul’sH7586robeהַמְּעִ֥ילha.me.'IlH4598privilyבַּלָּֽט׃ba.LatH3909.

5And it came to pass afterwardאַֽחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310,that David’sH1732heartלֵב־lev-H3820smoteוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221him, because he had cut offH3772Saul’sH7586skirtH3671.

6And he saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his menלַאֲנָשָׁ֜יוla.'a.na.ShavH582,Yhwhמֵֽיהוָ֗הme.Yah.wehH3068forbidחָלִ֧ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486that I should doאֶעֱשֶׂה֩'e.'e.SehH6213this thingהַדָּבָ֨רha.da.VarH1697unto my masterלַֽאדֹנִי֙la.do.NiH113,Yhwh'sיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068anointedלִמְשִׁ֣יחַlim.Shi.achH4899,to stretch forthלִשְׁלֹ֥חַlish.Lo.achH7971mine handיָדִ֖יya.DiH3027against him, seeing he isthe anointedמְשִׁ֥יחַme.Shi.achH4899of Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068.

7So Davidדָּוִ֤דda.VidH1732stayedוַיְשַׁסַּ֨עvay.sha.Sa'H8156his servantsH582with these wordsH1697,and sufferedנְתָנָ֖םne.ta.NamH5414them not to riseלָק֣וּםla.KumH6965against Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586.But Saulוְשָׁא֛וּלve.sha.'UlH7586rose upקָ֥םkamH6965out of the caveמֵהַמְּעָרָ֖הme.ha.me.'a.RahH4631,and wentH3212on hiswayבַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ סba.Da.rekhH1870.

8DavidH1732also aroseH6965afterward, and went outוַיֵּצֵא֙vai.ye.Tze'H3318of the caveH4631,and criedוַיִּקְרָ֧אvai.yik.Ra'H7121afterH310SaulH7586,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,My lordאֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.NiH113the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428.And when SaulH7586lookedוַיַּבֵּ֤טvai.ya.BetH5027behindH310him, DavidH1732stoopedוַיִּקֹּ֨דvai.yi.KodH6915with his faceאַפַּ֛יִם'a.Pa.yimH639to the earthאַ֖רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776,and bowedוַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ סvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812himself.

9And DavidH1732saidH559to SaulH7586,Wherefore hearestתִשְׁמַ֛עtish.Ma'H8085thou men’sאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120wordsדִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.ReiH1697,sayingH559,Behold, DavidH1732seekethמְבַקֵּ֖שׁme.va.KeshH1245thy hurtרָעָתֶֽךָ׃ra.'a.Te.khaH7451?

10Behold, this dayהַיּ֨וֹםhai.YomH3117thine eyesעֵינֶ֗יךָ'ei.Nei.khaH5869have seenרָא֣וּra.'UH7200how that Yhwhיְהוָ֨ה׀Yah.wehH3068had deliveredנְתָנְךָ֩ne.ta.ne.KhaH5414thee to dayהַיּ֤וֹם׀hai.YomH3117into mine handבְּיָדִי֙be.ya.DiH3027in the caveבַּמְּעָרָ֔הba.me.'a.RahH4631: and somebadeH559mekillלַהֲרָגֲךָ֖la.ha.ra.ga.KhaH2026thee: but mine eyesparedוַתָּ֣חָסva.Ta.chosH2347thee; and I saidH559,I will not put forthאֶשְׁלַ֤ח'esh.LachH7971mine handיָדִי֙ya.DiH3027against my lordבַּֽאדֹנִ֔יba.do.NiH113; for he isYhwh'sיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068anointedמְשִׁ֥יחַme.Shi.achH4899.

11Moreover, my fatherוְאָבִ֣יve.'a.ViH1,seeH7200,yea, seeH7200the skirtכְּנַ֥ףke.NafH3671of thy robeמְעִילְךָ֖me.'i.le.KhaH4598in my handH3027:for in that I cut offבְּכָרְתִי֩be.kha.re.TiH3772the skirtכְּנַ֨ףke.NafH3671of thy robeמְעִֽילְךָ֜me.'i.le.KhaH4598,and killedH2026thee not, knowדַּ֤עda'H3045thou and seeH7200that there isneither evilרָעָ֤הra.'AhH7451nor transgressionוָפֶ֙שַׁע֙va.Fe.sha'H6588in mine handH3027,and I have not sinnedחָטָ֣אתִיcha.Ta.tiH2398against thee; yet thou huntestצֹדֶ֥הtzo.DehH6658my soulנַפְשִׁ֖יnaf.ShiH5315to takeלְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃le.kach.TahH3947it.

12Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068judgeיִשְׁפֹּ֤טyish.PotH8199between me and thee, and Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068avengeוּנְקָמַ֥נִיu.ne.ka.Ma.niH5358me of thee: but mine handH3027shall not be upon thee.

13As saithיֹאמַ֗רyo.MarH559the proverbמְשַׁל֙me.ShalH4912of the ancientsהַקַּדְמֹנִ֔יha.kad.mo.NiH6931,Wickednessרֶ֑שַׁעRe.sha'H7562proceedethיֵ֣צֵאYe.tze'H3318from the wickedמֵרְשָׁעִ֖יםme.re.sha.'ImH7563:but mine handH3027shall not be upon thee.

14Afterאַחֲרֵ֨י'a.cha.ReiH310whom is the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478come outH3318?afterאַחֲרֵ֥י'a.cha.ReiH310whom dost thou pursueרֹדֵ֑ףro.DefH7291?afterאַֽחֲרֵי֙'a.cha.ReiH310a deadמֵ֔תMetH4191dogכֶּ֣לֶבKe.levH3611,afterאַחֲרֵ֖י'a.cha.ReiH310aאֶחָֽד׃'e.ChadH259fleaפַּרְעֹ֥שׁpar.'OshH6550.

15Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068therefore be judgeלְדַיָּ֔ןle.dai.YanH1781,and judgeוְשָׁפַ֖טve.sha.FatH8199between me and thee, and seeוְיֵ֙רֶא֙ve.Ye.re'H7200,and pleadוְיָרֵ֣בve.ya.RevH7378my causeרִיבִ֔יri.ViH7379,and deliverוְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִיve.yish.pe.Te.niH8199me out of thine handמִיָּדֶֽךָ׃ פmi.ya.De.khaH3027.

16And it came to pass, when Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732had made an endכְּכַלּ֣וֹתke.kha.LotH3615of speakingלְדַבֵּ֞רle.da.BerH1696these wordsהַדְּבָרִ֤יםha.de.va.RimH1697unto Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586,that Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Isthis thy voiceהֲקֹלְךָ֥ha.ko.le.ChaH6963,my sonבְּנִ֣יbe.NiH1121Davidדָוִ֑דda.VidH1732?And Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586lifted upוַיִּשָּׂ֥אvai.yi.Sa'H5375his voiceקֹל֖וֹko.LoH6963,and weptוַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃vai.Ye.vekH1058.

17And he saidH559to DavidH1732, Thou artmore righteousצַדִּ֥יקtza.DikH6662than I: for thou hast rewardedגְּמַלְתַּ֣נִיge.mal.Ta.niH1580me goodהַטּוֹבָ֔הha.to.VahH2896,whereas I have rewardedגְּמַלְתִּ֥יךָge.mal.Ti.khaH1580thee evilהָרָעָֽה׃ha.ra.'AhH7451.

18And thou hast shewedהִגַּ֣דְתָּhi.Gad.taH5046this dayהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117how that thou hast dealtעָשִׂ֥יתָה'a.Si.tahH6213wellH2896with me: forasmuch as when Yhwhיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068had deliveredסִגְּרַ֧נִיsi.ge.Ra.niH5462me into thine handבְּיָדְךָ֖be.ya.de.KhaH3027,thou killedstהֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃ha.rag.Ta.niH2026me not.

19For if a manאִישׁ֙'ishH376findיִמְצָ֥אyim.Tza'H4672his enemyאֹ֣יְב֔וֹ'o.ye.VoH341,will he let him goוְשִׁלְּח֖וֹve.shi.le.ChoH7971wellH2896awayבְּדֶ֣רֶךְbe.De.rekhH1870?wherefore YhwhH3068rewardיְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ye.sha.lem.KhaH7999thee goodH2896for that thou hast doneH6213unto me this dayH3117.

20And now, behold, I know wellיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045that thou shalt surelyמָלֹ֖ךְma.LokhH4427be kingתִּמְל֑וֹךְtim.LokhH4427,and that the kingdomמַמְלֶ֖כֶתmam.Le.khetH4467of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478shall be establishedוְקָ֙מָה֙ve.Ka.mahH6965in thine handבְּיָ֣דְךָ֔be.Ya.de.khaH3027.

21Swearהִשָּׁ֤בְעָהhi.Sha.ve.'ahH7650now therefore unto me by Yhwhבַּֽיהוָ֔הba.Yah.wehH3068,that thou wilt notH518cut offתַּכְרִ֥יתtakh.RitH3772my seedזַרְעִ֖יzar.'IH2233afterאַֽחֲרָ֑י'a.cha.RaiH310me, and that thou wilt not destroyתַּשְׁמִ֥ידtash.MidH8045my nameשְׁמִ֖יshe.MiH8034out of my father’sאָבִֽי׃'a.ViH1houseמִבֵּ֥יתmi.BeitH1004.

22And Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732swareH7650unto Saulלְשָׁא֑וּלle.sha.'UlH7586.And Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586wentH3212homeH1004;but Davidוְדָוִד֙ve.da.VidH1732and his menוַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יוva.'a.na.ShavH582gat them upעָל֖וּ'a.LuH5927unto the holdהַמְּצוּדָֽה׃ פha.me.tzu.DahH4686.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 24