^24:1 And it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. ^24:2 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.

    ^24:3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where a cave was and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave. ^24:4 And the men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand and you will do to him as it will seem good to you. Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.

    ^24:5 And it happened afterward, that David's heart struck at him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.^24:6And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Jehovah's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is Jehovah's anointed. ^24:7 So David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave and went on his way.

    ^24:8 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 then bowed-down. ^24:9 And David said to Saul, Why do you listen to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt? ^24:10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. And some commanded me kill you, but I spared you. And I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, because he is Jehovah's anointed.

    ^24:11 Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand, because in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and did not kill you. Know and see that neither evil nor transgression is in my hand and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt after my life to take it.

    ^24:12 Jehovah judge between me and you and Jehovah avenge me of you, but my hand will not be upon you. ^24:13 As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness, but my hand will not be upon you. ^24:14 After whom has the King of Israel come out for? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea. ^24:15 Jehovah therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you and see and plead my cause and deliver me out of your hand.

    ^24:16 And it happened, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. ^24:17 And he said to David, You are more righteous than I, because you have rendered to me good, and I have rendered to you evil. ^24:18And you have declared this day how that you have dealt well with me, inasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into your hand, you did not kill me.^24:19 Because if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away well? Therefore Jehovah reward you good for what you have done to me this day.

    ^24:20 And now, behold, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. ^24:21 Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that you will not cut off my seed after me and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house. ^24:22 And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men got up to the stronghold.