1 W hen Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, Behold, David is in the Wilderness of En-gedi.

¶ And it came to pass when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.

2 T hen Saul took 3, 000 chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men among the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 H e came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the cave’s innermost recesses.

And he came to a flock of sheep by the way where there was a cave, and Saul went in to cover his feet, and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 D avid’s men said to him, Behold the day of which the Lord said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands and you shall do to him as seems good to you. Then David arose and stealthily cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.

Then the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thy enemy into thy hand that thou may do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose and silently cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.

5 A fterward, David’s heart smote him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

And it came to pass afterward that David’s heart smote him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6 H e said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to put my hand out against him, when he is the anointed of the Lord.

And he said unto his men, The LORD keep me from doing this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

7 S o David checked his men with these words and did not let them rise against Saul. But Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

So David stayed his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way.

8 D avid also arose afterward and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and did obeisance.

David also arose afterward and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and worshipped.

9 A nd David said to Saul, Why do you listen to the words of men who say, David seeks to do you harm?

¶ And David said to Saul, Why hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?

10 B ehold, your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee today into my hand in the cave, and some bade me kill thee, but I forgave thee, and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.

11 S ee, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the skirt of your robe and did not kill you, you know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it.

Moreover, my father, see; see the skirt of thy robe is even in my hand, for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe and did not kill thee, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou doest hunt my life to take it.

12 M ay the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord avenge me upon you, but my hand shall not be upon you.

The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee, but my hand shall not be upon thee.

13 A s the proverb of the ancients says, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be against you.

As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but my hand shall not be upon thee.

14 A fter whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea?

After whom is the king of Israel come out? After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog? After a flea?

15 M ay the Lord be judge and judge between me and you, and see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hands.

The LORD, therefore, shall judge, and he shall judge between me and thee. Let him see and plead my cause, and defend me from thy hand.

16 W hen David had said this to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

¶ And it came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17 H e said to David, You are more upright in God’s eyes than I, for you have repaid me good, but I have rewarded you evil.

And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast repaid me with good, whereas I have repaid thee with evil.

18 Y ou have declared today how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord gave me into your hand, you did not kill me.

And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.

19 F or if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.

For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe and sound? The LORD reward thee with good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.

20 A nd now, behold, I well know that you shall surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hands.

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel shall be firm and stable in thy hand.

21 S wear now therefore to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

22 D avid gave Saul his oath; and Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Then David swore unto Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up unto the fortress.