1 A nd it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, `Lo, David 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 A nd Saul taketh three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and goeth to seek David and his men, on the front of 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 a nd he cometh in unto folds of the flock, on the way, and there a cave, and Saul goeth in to cover his feet; and David and his men in the sides of the cave are abiding.

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 A nd the men of David say unto him, `Lo, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Lo, I am giving thine enemy into thy hand, and thou hast done to him as it is good in thine eyes;' and David riseth and cutteth off the skirt of the upper robe which on Saul -- gently.

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 nd it cometh to pass afterwards that the heart of David smiteth him, because that he hath cut off the skirt which on Saul,

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

6 a nd he saith to his men, `Far be it from me, by Jehovah; I do not do this thing to my lord -- to the anointed of Jehovah -- to put forth my hand against him, for the anointed of Jehovah he.'

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 A nd David subdueth his men by words, and hath not permitted them to rise against Saul; and Saul hath risen from the cave, and goeth on the 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 a nd David riseth afterwards, and goeth out from the cave, and calleth after Saul, saying, `My lord, O king!' And Saul looketh attentively behind him, and David boweth -- face to the earth -- and doth 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 saith to Saul, `Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?

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

10 L o, this day have thine eyes seen how that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and said to slay thee, and hath pity on thee, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Jehovah he.

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 ` And, my father, see, yea see the skirt of thine upper robe in my hand; for by cutting off the skirt of thy upper robe, and I have not slain thee, know and see that there is not in my hand evil and transgression, and I have not sinned against thee, and thou art hunting my soul 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 ` Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;

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 saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.

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

14 ` After whom hath the king of Israel come out? after whom art thou pursuing? -- after a dead dog! after one flea!

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

15 A nd Jehovah hath been for judge, and hath judged between me and thee, yea, he seeth and pleadeth my cause, and doth deliver me out of thy hand.'

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 A nd it cometh to pass, when David completeth to speak these words unto Saul, that Saul saith, `Is this thy voice, my son David?' and Saul lifteth up his voice, and weepeth.

¶ 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 A nd he saith unto David, `More righteous thou than I; for thou hast done me good, and I have done thee 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 a nd thou hast declared to-day how that thou hast done good with me, how that Jehovah shut me up into thy hand, and thou didst not slay 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 a nd that a man doth find his enemy, and hath sent him away in a good manner; and Jehovah doth repay thee good for that which thou didst to 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 ` And, now, lo, I have known that thou dost certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel hath stood in thy hand;

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 a nd, now, swear to me by Jehovah -- thou dost not cut off my seed after me, nor dost thou destroy my name from the house of my father.'

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 A nd David sweareth to Saul, and Saul goeth unto his house, and David and his men have gone up unto the fortress.

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