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

When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”

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 on 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.

He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts 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.

David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.

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

Afterward, David’s heart struck 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.

He said to his men, “Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed.”

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 checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. 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!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.

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

David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’

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, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not stretch out my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh’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, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for 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.

May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.

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 the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.

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

Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? 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.

May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your 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.

It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” 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.

He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.

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.

You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t 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 unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me today.

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.

Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your 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 to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will 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.

David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.