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.'

Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 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 from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of 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.

He 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 inner recesses 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.

The men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.

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,

It came about afterward that David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.

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.'

So he said to his men, “ Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.”

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;

David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left 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.

Now afterward David arose 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 ground and prostrated himself.

9 A nd David saith to Saul, `Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?

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

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 your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out 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!

Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for 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;

May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

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

As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘ Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.

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

After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single 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 be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your 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.

When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “ Is this your voice, my son David?” Then 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;

He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.

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,

You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the Lord delivered me into your hand and yet you did 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 safely? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to 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;

Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your 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.'

So now swear 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 household.”

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

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