1And it came to pass, when Saul7586 was returned7725 from following310 the Philistines6430, that it was told5046 him, saying559, Behold, David1732 is in the wilderness4057 of Engedi5872.
2Then Saul7586 took3947 three7969 thousand505 chosen977 men376 out of all Israel3478, and went3212 to seek1245 David1732 and his men582 upon6440 the rocks6697 of the wild goats3277.
3And he came935 to the sheepcotes1448 6629 by the way1870, where was a cave4631; and Saul7586 went in935 to cover5526 his feet7272: and David1732 and his men582 remained3427 in the sides3411 of the cave4631.
4And the men582 of David1732 said559 unto him, Behold the day3117 of which the LORD3068 said559 unto thee, Behold, I will deliver5414 thine enemy341 into thine hand3027, that thou mayest do6213 to him as it shall seem good3190 unto thee5869. Then David1732 arose6965, and cut off3772 the skirt3671 of Saul's7586 robe4598 privily3909.
5And it came to pass afterward310, that David's1732 heart3820 smote5221 him, because he had cut off3772 Saul's7586 skirt3671.
6And he said559 unto his men582, The LORD3068 forbid2486 that I should do6213 this thing1697 unto my master113, the LORD'S3068 anointed4899, to stretch forth7971 mine hand3027 against him, seeing he is the anointed4899 of the LORD3068.
7So David1732 stayed8156 his servants582 with these words1697, and suffered5414 them not to rise6965 against Saul7586. But Saul7586 rose up6965 out of the cave4631, and went3212 on his way1870.
8David1732 also arose6965 afterward, and went out3318 of the cave4631, and cried7121 after310 Saul7586, saying559, My lord113 the king4428. And when Saul7586 looked5027 behind310 him, David1732 stooped6915 with his face639 to the earth776, and bowed7812 himself.
9And David1732 said559 to Saul7586, Wherefore hearest8085 thou men's120 words1697, saying559, Behold, David1732 seeketh1245 thy hurt7451?
10Behold, this day3117 thine eyes5869 have seen7200 how that the LORD3068 had delivered5414 thee to day3117 into mine hand3027 in the cave4631: and some bade559 me kill2026 thee: but mine eye spared2347 thee; and I said559, I will not put forth7971 mine hand3027 against my lord113; for he is the LORD'S3068 anointed4899.
11Moreover, my father1, see7200, yea, see7200 the skirt3671 of thy robe4598 in my hand3027: for in that I cut off3772 the skirt3671 of thy robe4598, and killed2026 thee not, know3045 thou and see7200 that there is neither evil7451 nor transgression6588 in mine hand3027, and I have not sinned2398 against thee; yet thou huntest6658 my soul5315 to take3947 it.
12The LORD3068 judge8199 between me and thee, and the LORD3068 avenge5358 me of thee: but mine hand3027 shall not be upon thee.
13As saith559 the proverb4912 of the ancients6931, Wickedness7562 proceedeth3318 from the wicked7563: but mine hand3027 shall not be upon thee.
14After310 whom is the king4428 of Israel3478 come out3318? after310 whom dost thou pursue7291? after310 a dead4191 dog3611, after310 a259 flea6550.
15The LORD3068 therefore be judge1781, and judge8199 between me and thee, and see7200, and plead7378 my cause7379, and deliver8199 me out of thine hand3027.
16And it came to pass, when David1732 had made an end3615 of speaking1696 these words1697 unto Saul7586, that Saul7586 said559, Is this thy voice6963, my son1121 David1732? And Saul7586 lifted up5375 his voice6963, and wept1058.
17And he said559 to David1732, Thou art more righteous6662 than I: for thou hast rewarded1580 me good2896, whereas I have rewarded1580 thee evil7451.
18And thou hast shewed5046 this day3117 how that thou hast dealt6213 well2896 with me: forasmuch as when the LORD3068 had delivered5462 me into thine hand3027, thou killedst2026 me not.
19For if a man376 find4672 his enemy341, will he let him go7971 well2896 away1870? wherefore the LORD3068 reward7999 thee good2896 for that thou hast done6213 unto me this day3117.
20And now, behold, I know well3045 that thou shalt surely4427 be king4427, and that the kingdom4467 of Israel3478 shall be established6965 in thine hand3027.
21Swear7650 now therefore unto me by the LORD3068, that thou wilt not518 cut off3772 my seed2233 after310 me, and that thou wilt not destroy8045 my name8034 out of my father's1 house1004.
22And David1732 sware7650 unto Saul7586. And Saul7586 went3212 home1004; but David1732 and his men582 gat them up5927 unto the hold4686.