Now awhen Saul
returned
from pursuing
the Philistines
, bhe was told
, saying
, "Behold
, David
is in the wilderness
of Engedi
."
Then aSaul 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
.
He came to the sheepfolds
on the way
, where
there
was a cave
; and Saul
awent
in to 1relieve
himself. Now bDavid
and his men
were sitting
in the inner
recesses
of the cave
.
The men of David
said
to him, "Behold
, athis is the day
of which
the LORD
said
to you, `Behold
; bI am about to give
your enemy
into your hand
, and you shall do
to him as it seems
good
1to you.' " Then David
arose
and cut
off
the edge
of Saul's
robe
secretly
.
It came about afterward
that aDavid's
1conscience
bothered
him because
he had cut
off
the edge
of Saul's
robe.
So he said to his men
, " aFar
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
."
David 1persuaded
his men
with these words
and did not allow
them to rise
up against
Saul
. And Saul
arose
, 2left
the cave
, and went
on his way
.
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, aDavid
bowed
with his face
to the ground
and prostrated
himself.
David said
to Saul
, "Why
do you listen
to the words
of men
, saying
, `Behold
, David
seeks
1to harm
you'?
" aBehold, this
day
your eyes
have seen
that the LORD
had given
you today
into my hand
in the cave
, and bsome 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
.'
"Now, amy 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 1rebellion
in my hands
, and I have not sinned
against you, though you bare lying
in wait
for my life
to take
it.
" aMay the LORD judge
between
1you and me, and may the LORD
avenge
me on you; but my hand
shall not be against you.
"As the proverb of the ancients
says
, ` aOut of the wicked
comes
forth
wickedness
'; but my hand
shall not be against you.
"After whom
has the king
of Israel
come
out? Whom
are you pursuing
? aA dead
dog
, ba single
flea
?
" aThe LORD therefore be judge
and decide
between
1you and me; and may He see
and bplead
my cause
and 2deliver
me from your hand
."
When David had finished
speaking
these
words
to Saul
, Saul
said
, " aIs this
your voice
, my son
David
?" Then Saul
lifted
up his voice
and wept
.
aHe said to David
, "You are more
righteous
than
I; for byou have dealt
well
with me, while I have dealt
wickedly
with you.
"You have declared today
that you have done
good
to me, that athe LORD
delivered
me into your hand
and yet you did not kill
me.
"For if a man
afinds
his enemy
, will he let him go
away
1safely
? May the LORD
therefore reward
you with good
in return
for what
you have done
to me this
day
.
"Now, behold
, aI know
that you will surely
be king
, and that bthe kingdom
of Israel
will be established
in your hand
.
"So now aswear
to me by the LORD
that you will not cut
off
my 1descendants
after
me and that you will not destroy
my name
from my father's
household
."
David swore
to Saul
. And Saul
went
to his home
, but David
and his men
went
up to athe stronghold
.