1 Samuel 24

1And it cameH5927 to pass, when Saul was returnedH5927 from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, DavidH1732 is in the wilderness of En-gedi. 2Then SaulH7586 tookH1961 three thousand chosen menH559 out of allH2009 Israel, and wentH7725 to seek DavidH1732 and his menH559 uponH1961 the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he cameH376 to the sheepcotes by the wayH6440, whereH5921 was a cave; and SaulH7586 wentH376 in to cover his feet. Now DavidH1732 and his menH376 were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the menH376 of DavidH1732 saidH413 unto him, Behold, the day of whichH8033 the LORD saidH413 unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy intoH413 thine hand, and thou shalt doH935 to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then DavidH1732 arose, and cut offH5921 the skirt of Saul’sH7586 robe privily. 5And it cameH413 to passH6965 afterward, that David’sH1732 heart smote him becauseH834 he had cutH3772 offH3772 Saul’sH7586 skirtH3671. 6And he saidH3651 unto his menH3772, The LORD forbid that I should do this thingH3651 unto my lord, the LORD’S anointed, to put forth mine hand againstH5921 him, seeing he is the LORD’S anointed. 7SoH6213 DavidH3027 checked his menH376 with theseH2088 wordsH1697, and suffered them notH2088 to rise againstH3027 SaulH559. And SaulH559 rose upH853 outH7971 of the cave, and wentH376 on his wayH1697. 8DavidH1732 also aroseH6965 afterward, and wentH6965 outH413 of the caveH4631, and criedH5414 afterH413 SaulH7586, sayingH1697, My lord the king. And when SaulH7586 looked behind him, DavidH1732 bowed with his face to the earth, and didH3808 obeisance. 9And DavidH1732 saidH559 to SaulH7586, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men’s words, sayingH559, BeholdH5027, DavidH1732 seeketh thy hurt? 10BeholdH2009, this day thine eyes have seen howH4100 that the LORD had delivered thee today into mine hand in the cave: and someH2009 bade meH1697 kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I saidH559, I will notH1732 put forthH8085 mine hand againstH1697 my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed. 11MoreoverH2009, my father, seeH7200, yeaH3588, seeH7200 the skirt of thy robe in my handH3027: for in that I cut offH5921 the skirt of thy robe, and killedH2026 thee notH3808, know thou and seeH7200 that there is neitherH3808 evil norH3808 transgression in mine handH3027, and I have notH3808 sinned againstH5921 thee, thoughH3588 thou huntest afterH5921 my soul to takeH7200 it. 12The LORD judge between meH5315 and thee, and the LORD avenge meH5315 of thee: but mine handH3027 shall notH3808 be uponH7200 thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, OutH4480 of the wicked cometh forth wickedness: but mineH4480 handH3027 shall notH3808 be uponH1961 thee. 14AfterH1961 whomH834 is the king of Israel comeH1961 outH3318? afterH1961 whomH834 dost thou pursue? afterH1961 a dead dog, afterH1961 a flea. 15The LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between meH310 and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver meH310 outH3318 of thine hand. 16And it cameH1961 to passH1961, when DavidH3027 had madeH1961 an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son DavidH3027? And Saul lifted upH7200 his voice, and wept. 17And he saidH559 to DavidH1732, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast renderedH559 unto meH413 good, whereas I have renderedH559 unto thee evil. 18And thou hast declaredH559 this day howH3588 that thou hast dealtH1580 wellH2896 with meH413: forasmuch as when the LORDH6662 had delivered meH413 upH4480 intoH413 thine hand, thou killedst meH413 notH1732. 19For ifH834 a man find his enemy, will he letH3808 him go wellH2896 away? wherefore the LORDH3068 reward thee goodH2896 for that thou hast doneH6213 unto meH5046 this dayH3117. 20And nowH3117, behold, I know that thou shalt surelyH3588 be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21SwearH3588 nowH6258 therefore unto meH6965 by the LORD, that thou wilt notH3588 cut off my seed afterH3588 meH6965, and that thou wilt notH3588 destroy my name outH3045 of my father’s house. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul wentH1004 homeH1004; but David and his menH3772 gat them upH853 unto the holdH1004.