1 N ow it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.”

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

2 T hen Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

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

3 S o he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)

And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.

4 T hen the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.

5 N ow it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 A nd he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord ’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”

And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.

7 S o David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on way.

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

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

9 A nd David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?

And David said to Saul, Why dost thou listen to words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?

10 L ook, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord ’s anointed.’

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah.

11 M oreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

And see, my father, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it.

12 L et the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.

Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.

13 A s the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.

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

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

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

15 T herefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”

Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice out of thy hand.

16 S o it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “ Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

17 T hen he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.

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

18 A nd you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.

And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me.

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

For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me this day.

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

And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.

21 T herefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s house.”

Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, 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 S o David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; and David and his men went up to the stronghold.