1 Samuel 24

¹ And it comes to pass when Saul has turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, "Lo, David [is] in the wilderness of En-gedi." ² And Saul takes three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and goes to seek David and his men, on the front of the rocks of the wild goats, ³ and he comes in unto folds of the flock, on the way, and there [is] a cave, and Saul goes in to cover his feet; and David and his men in the sides of the cave are abiding. ⁴ And the men of David say unto him, "Lo, the day of which Yahweh said unto you, 'Lo, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you have done to him as it is good in your eyes'"; and David rises and cuts off the skirt of the upper robe which [is] on Saul - gently. ⁵ And it comes to pass afterwards that the heart of David smites him, because that he has cut off the skirt which [is] on Saul, ⁶ and he said to his men, "Far be it from me, by Yahweh; I do not do this thing to my lord - to the anointed of Yahweh - to put forth my hand against him, for the anointed of Yahweh he [is]." ⁷ And David subdues his men by words, and has not permitted them to rise against Saul; and Saul has risen from the cave, and goes on the way; ⁸ and David rises afterwards, and goes out from the cave, and calls after Saul, saying, "My lord, O king!" And Saul looks attentively behind him, and David bows - face to the earth - and does obeisance. ⁹ And David said to Saul, "Why do you hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking your evil? ¹⁰ Lo, this day have your eyes seen how that Yahweh has given you to-day into my hand in the cave; and [one] said to slay you, and [mine eye] has pity on you, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Yahweh he [is]. ¹¹ And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of your upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of your upper robe, and I have not slain you, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against you, and you are hunting my soul to take it! ¹² Yahweh does judge between me and you, and Yahweh has avenged me of you, and my hand is not on you; ¹³ as said the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goes out wickedness, and my hand is not on you. ¹⁴ After whom has the king of Israel come out? after whom are you pursuing? after a dead dog! after one flea! ¹⁵ And Yahweh has been for judge, and has judged between me and you, yea, he sees and pleads my cause, and does deliver me out of your hand." ¹⁶ And it comes to pass, when David completes to speak these words unto Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" and Saul lifts up his voice, and weeps. ¹⁷ And he said unto David, "More righteous you [are] than I; for you have done me good, and I have done you evil; ¹⁸ and you have declared to-day how that you have done good with me, how that Yahweh shut me up into your hand, and you did not slay me, ¹⁹ and that a man does find his enemy, and has sent him away in a good manner; and Yahweh does repay you good for that which you did to me this day. ²⁰ And, now, lo, I have known that you do certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel has stood in your hand; ²¹ and, now, swear to me by Yahweh - you do not cut off my seed after me, nor do you destroy my name from the house of my father." ²² And David swears to Saul, and Saul goes unto his house, and David and his men have gone up unto the fortress.