1 And it came to pass, when Saul{H7586} was returned{H7725}{(H8804)} from following{H310} the Philistines{H6430}, that it was told{H5046}{(H8686)} him, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold, David{H1732} is in the wilderness{H4057} of Engedi{H5872}.

2 Then Saul{H7586} took{H3947}{(H8799)} three{H7969} thousand{H505} chosen{H977}{(H8803)} men{H376} out of all Israel{H3478}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} to seek{H1245}{(H8763)} David{H1732} and his men{H582} upon{H6440} the rocks{H6697} of the wild goats{H3277}.

3 And he came{H935}{(H8799)} to the sheepcotes{H1448}{H6629} by the way{H1870}, where was a cave{H4631}; and Saul{H7586} went in{H935}{(H8799)} to cover{H5526}{(H8687)} his feet{H7272}: and David{H1732} and his men{H582} remained{H3427}{(H8802)} in the sides{H3411} of the cave{H4631}.

4 And the men{H582} of David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Behold the day{H3117} of which the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8804)} unto thee, Behold, I will deliver{H5414}{(H8802)} thine enemy{H341}{(H8802)} into thine hand{H3027}, that thou mayest do{H6213}{(H8804)} to him as it shall seem good{H3190}{(H8799)} unto thee{H5869}. Then David{H1732} arose{H6965}{(H8799)}, and cut off{H3772}{(H8799)} the skirt{H3671} of Saul's{H7586} robe{H4598} privily{H3909}.

5 And it came to pass afterward{H310}, that David's{H1732} heart{H3820} smote{H5221}{(H8686)} him, because he had cut off{H3772}{(H8804)} Saul's{H7586} skirt{H3671}.

6 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his men{H582}, The LORD{H3068} forbid{H2486} that I should do{H6213}{(H8799)} this thing{H1697} unto my master{H113}, the LORD'S{H3068} anointed{H4899}, to stretch forth{H7971}{(H8800)} mine hand{H3027} against him, seeing he is the anointed{H4899} of the LORD{H3068}.

7 So David{H1732} stayed{H8156}{(H8762)} his servants{H582} with these words{H1697}, and suffered{H5414}{(H8804)} them not to rise{H6965}{(H8800)} against Saul{H7586}. But Saul{H7586} rose up{H6965}{(H8804)} out of the cave{H4631}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} on his way{H1870}.

8 David{H1732} also arose{H6965}{(H8799)} afterward, and went out{H3318}{(H8799)} of the cave{H4631}, and cried{H7121}{(H8799)} after{H310} Saul{H7586}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, My lord{H113} the king{H4428}. And when Saul{H7586} looked{H5027}{(H8686)} behind{H310} him, David{H1732} stooped{H6915}{(H8799)} with his face{H639} to the earth{H776}, and bowed{H7812}{(H8691)} himself.

9 And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)} to Saul{H7586}, Wherefore hearest{H8085}{(H8799)} thou men's{H120} words{H1697}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Behold, David{H1732} seeketh{H1245}{(H8764)} thy hurt{H7451}?

10 Behold, this day{H3117} thine eyes{H5869} have seen{H7200}{(H8804)} how that the LORD{H3068} had delivered{H5414}{(H8804)} thee to day{H3117} into mine hand{H3027} in the cave{H4631}: and some bade{H559}{(H8804)} me kill{H2026}{(H8800)} thee: but mine eye spared{H2347}{(H8799)} thee; and I said{H559}{(H8799)}, I will not put forth{H7971}{(H8799)} mine hand{H3027} against my lord{H113}; for he is the LORD'S{H3068} anointed{H4899}.

11 Moreover, my father{H1}, see{H7200}{(H8798)}, yea, see{H7200}{(H8798)} the skirt{H3671} of thy robe{H4598} in my hand{H3027}: for in that I cut off{H3772}{(H8800)} the skirt{H3671} of thy robe{H4598}, and killed{H2026}{(H8804)} thee not, know{H3045}{(H8798)} thou and see{H7200}{(H8798)} that there is neither evil{H7451} nor transgression{H6588} in mine hand{H3027}, and I have not sinned{H2398}{(H8804)} against thee; yet thou huntest{H6658}{(H8802)} my soul{H5315} to take{H3947}{(H8800)} it.

12 The LORD{H3068} judge{H8199}{(H8799)} between me and thee, and the LORD{H3068} avenge{H5358}{(H8804)} me of thee: but mine hand{H3027} shall not be upon thee.

13 As saith{H559}{(H8799)} the proverb{H4912} of the ancients{H6931}, Wickedness{H7562} proceedeth{H3318}{(H8799)} from the wicked{H7563}: but mine hand{H3027} shall not be upon thee.

14 After{H310} whom is the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} come out{H3318}{(H8804)}? after{H310} whom dost thou pursue{H7291}{(H8802)}? after{H310} a dead{H4191}{(H8801)} dog{H3611}, after{H310} a{H259} flea{H6550}.

15 The LORD{H3068} therefore be judge{H1781}, and judge{H8199}{(H8804)} between me and thee, and see{H7200}{(H8799)}, and plead{H7378}{(H8799)} my cause{H7379}, and deliver{H8199}{(H8799)} me out of thine hand{H3027}.

16 And it came to pass, when David{H1732} had made an end{H3615}{(H8763)} of speaking{H1696}{(H8763)} these words{H1697} unto Saul{H7586}, that Saul{H7586} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Is this thy voice{H6963}, my son{H1121} David{H1732}? And Saul{H7586} lifted up{H5375}{(H8799)} his voice{H6963}, and wept{H1058}{(H8799)}.

17 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} to David{H1732}, Thou art more righteous{H6662} than I: for thou hast rewarded{H1580}{(H8804)} me good{H2896}, whereas I have rewarded{H1580}{(H8804)} thee evil{H7451}.

18 And thou hast shewed{H5046}{(H8689)} this day{H3117} how that thou hast dealt{H6213}{(H8804)} well{H2896} with me: forasmuch as when the LORD{H3068} had delivered{H5462}{(H8765)} me into thine hand{H3027}, thou killedst{H2026}{(H8804)} me not.

19 For if a man{H376} find{H4672}{(H8799)} his enemy{H341}{(H8802)}, will he let him go{H7971}{(H8765)} well{H2896} away{H1870}? wherefore the LORD{H3068} reward{H7999}{(H8762)} thee good{H2896} for that thou hast done{H6213}{(H8804)} unto me this day{H3117}.

20 And now, behold, I know well{H3045}{(H8804)} that thou shalt surely{H4427}{(H8800)} be king{H4427}{(H8799)}, and that the kingdom{H4467} of Israel{H3478} shall be established{H6965}{(H8804)} in thine hand{H3027}.

21 Swear{H7650}{(H8734)} now therefore unto me by the LORD{H3068}, that thou wilt not{H518} cut off{H3772}{(H8686)} my seed{H2233} after{H310} me, and that thou wilt not destroy{H8045}{(H8686)} my name{H8034} out of my father's{H1} house{H1004}.

22 And David{H1732} sware{H7650}{(H8735)} unto Saul{H7586}. And Saul{H7586} went{H3212}{(H8799)} home{H1004}; but David{H1732} and his men{H582} gat them up{H5927}{(H8804)} unto the hold{H4686}.