^{1 Ref} And from there, David went up and took cover in the safe place of En-gedi.

^{2 Ref} Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.

^{3 Ref} Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.

^{4 Ref} And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.

^{5 Ref} And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.

^{6 Ref} And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.

^{7 Ref} And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.

^{8 Ref} So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.

^{9 Ref} And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.

^{10 Ref} And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?

^{11 Ref} Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.

^{12 Ref} And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.

^{13 Ref} May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

^{14 Ref} There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

^{15 Ref} After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.

^{16 Ref} So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.

^{17 Ref} Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.

^{18 Ref} And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.

^{19 Ref} And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.

^{20 Ref} If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.

^{21 Ref} And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.

^{22 Ref} So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.

²³ And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.

^{1 Ref} 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 En-gedi.

^{2 Ref} 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 Ref} And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.

^{4 Ref} And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

^{5 Ref} And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

^{6 Ref} And he said unto his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing unto my lord, Jehovah's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Jehovah's anointed.

^{7 Ref} So David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

^{8 Ref} 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 bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.

^{9 Ref} And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

^{10 Ref} Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but `mine eye' spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Jehovah's anointed.

^{11 Ref} 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 my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it.

^{12 Ref} Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.

^{13 Ref} As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.

^{14 Ref} After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

^{15 Ref} Jehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.

^{16 Ref} 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.

^{17 Ref} And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.

^{18 Ref} And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not.

^{19 Ref} For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.

^{20 Ref} And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.

^{21 Ref} Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, 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 Ref} And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.

^{1 Ref} And it cometh to pass when Saul hath turned back from after the Philistines, that they declare to him, saying, `Lo, David `is' in the wilderness of En-gedi.'

^{2 Ref} And 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,

^{3 Ref} and he cometh in unto folds of the flock, on the way, and there `is' a cave, and Saul goeth in to cover his feet; and David and his men in the sides of the cave are abiding.

^{4 Ref} And 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 `is' on Saul -- gently.

^{5 Ref} And it cometh to pass afterwards that the heart of David smiteth him, because that he hath cut off the skirt which `is' on Saul,

^{6 Ref} and 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 `is'.'

^{7 Ref} And 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;

^{8 Ref} and 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.

^{9 Ref} And David saith to Saul, `Why dost thou hear the words of man, saying, Lo, David is seeking thine evil?

^{10 Ref} Lo, this day have thine eyes seen how that Jehovah hath given thee to-day into my hand in the cave; and `one' said to slay thee, and `mine eye' hath pity on thee, and I say, I do not put forth my hand against my lord, for the anointed of Jehovah he `is'.

^{11 Ref} `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!

^{12 Ref} `Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;

^{13 Ref} as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.

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

^{15 Ref} And 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.'

^{16 Ref} And 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.

^{17 Ref} And he saith unto David, `More righteous thou `art' than I; for thou hast done me good, and I have done thee evil;

^{18 Ref} and 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,

^{19 Ref} and 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.

^{20 Ref} `And, now, lo, I have known that thou dost certainly reign, and the kingdom of Israel hath stood in thy hand;

^{21 Ref} and, 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.'

^{22 Ref} And David sweareth to Saul, and Saul goeth unto his house, and David and his men have gone up unto the fortress.