1 Samuel 24
Revised Geneva Translation
24 And David went from there and dwelt in strongholds at En Gedi.
2 When Saul had turned from the Philistines, they told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
3 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks among the wild goats.
4 And he came to the sheepfolds along the way, where there was a cave. And Saul went in to relieve himself. And David and his men sat in the inner parts of the cave.
5 And the men of David said to him, “Behold, the day has come of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off the lap of Saul’s garment.
6 And afterward, David was touched in his heart, because he had cut off the lap which was on Saul’s garment.
7 And he said to his men, “The LORD keep me from doing that thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to lay my hand upon him. For he is the anointed of the LORD.”
8 So David overcame his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. For Saul got up from the cave and went away.
9 Afterward, David also arose and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “O my lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David turned his face to the ground and bowed himself.
10 And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words who say, ‘Behold, David seeks evil against you’?
11 “Behold, your eyes have just seen that the LORD had delivered you this day into my hand in the cave. And some asked me to kill you. But I had compassion on you, and said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my master. For he is the LORD’s anointed.’
12 “Moreover, my father, behold. Behold, I say, the lap of your garment in my hand! For when I cut off the lap of your garment, I did not kill you. Understand and see that there is neither evil nor wickedness in me. Nor have I sinned against you. Yet you hunt after my soul to take it.
13 “The LORD be judge between you and me. And the LORD avenge me of you. But let not my hand be upon you.
14 “Just as the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but my hand be not upon you.’
15 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue, after a dead dog, after a flea?
16 “The LORD, therefore, be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
17 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept,
18 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I. For you have rendered me good and I have rendered you evil.
19 “And you have shown this day that you have dealt well with me. For when the LORD had closed me in your hands, you did not kill me.
20 “For who shall find his enemy and let him depart free? Therefore, may the LORD render you good for what you have done to me this day.
21 “For now, behold, I know that you shall be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
22 “Swear now, therefore, to me by the LORD that you will not destroy my seed after me, and that you will not abolish my name out of my father’s House.”
23 So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home. But David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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