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
.
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
.
And he came to the sheepcotes
by the way
, where was a cave
; and Saul
went in
to cover
his feet
: and David
and his men
remained
in the sides
of the cave
.
And the men of David
said
unto him, Behold the day
of which the LORD
said
unto thee, Behold, I will deliver
thine enemy
into thine hand
, that thou mayest do
to him as it shall seem good
unto thee
. Then David
arose
, and cut off
the skirt
of Saul's
robe
privily
.
And it came to pass afterward, that David's
heart
smote
him, because he had cut off
Saul's
skirt
.
And he said unto his men
, The LORD
forbid
that I should do
this thing
unto my master
, the LORD'S
anointed
, to stretch forth
mine hand
against him, seeing he is the anointed
of the LORD
.
So David stayed
his servants
with these words
, and suffered
them not to rise
against Saul
. But Saul
rose up
out of the cave
, and went
on his way
.
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 bowed
himself.
And David said
to Saul
, Wherefore hearest
thou men's
words
, saying
, Behold, David
seeketh
thy hurt
?
Behold, this day thine eyes
have seen
how that the LORD
had delivered
thee to day
into mine hand
in the cave
: and some bade
me kill
thee: but mine eye spared
thee; and I said
, I will not put forth
mine hand
against my lord
; for he is the LORD'S
anointed
.
Moreover, my father, see
, yea, 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
thou and see
that there is neither evil
nor transgression
in mine hand
, and I have not sinned
against thee; yet thou huntest
my soul
to take
it.
The LORD judge
between me and thee, and the LORD
avenge
me of thee: but mine hand
shall not be upon thee.
As saith the proverb
of the ancients
, Wickedness
proceedeth
from the wicked
: but mine hand
shall not be upon thee.
After whom is the king
of Israel
come out
? after
whom dost thou pursue
? after
a dead
dog
, after
a
flea
.
The LORD therefore be judge
, and judge
between me and thee, and see
, and plead
my cause
, and deliver
me out of thine hand
.
And it came to pass, when David had made an end
of speaking
these words
unto Saul
, that Saul
said
, Is this thy voice
, my son
David
? And Saul
lifted up
his voice
, and wept
.
And he said to David
, Thou art more righteous
than I: for thou hast rewarded
me good
, whereas I have rewarded
thee evil
.
And thou hast shewed this day
how that thou hast dealt
well
with me: forasmuch as when the LORD
had delivered
me into thine hand
, thou killedst
me not.
For if a man find
his enemy
, will he let him go
well
away
? wherefore the LORD
reward
thee good
for that thou hast done
unto me this day
.
And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely
be king
, and that the kingdom
of Israel
shall be established
in thine hand
.
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
.
And David sware
unto Saul
. And Saul
went
home
; but David
and his men
gat them up
unto the hold
.