1 Samuel 24

1And 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.

1After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told, 'David is in the desert of En-gedi.'

2Then 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.

2So Saul took three thousand of Israel’s best soldiers and went to look for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3And 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.

3He came to some sheep pens along the road where there was a cave, and Saul went inside to use the restroom. David and his men were hiding in the very back of that same cave.

4And 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.

4David’s men said to him, 'This is the day the LORD told you about when he said, "I will hand your enemy over to you, and you can do whatever you want to him."' Then David crept up and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

5But afterward, David felt very guilty because he had cut Saul’s robe.

6And 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.

6He said to his men, 'The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed king, or lift my hand against him, because he is the one the LORD anointed.'

7So 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.

7David used these words to stop his men and would not let them attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

8David 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.

8Later, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, 'My lord the king!' When Saul looked back, David bowed down with his face to the ground to show respect.

9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

9David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to people who say, "David is trying to hurt you"?

10Behold, 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.

10Today you can see with your own eyes that the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I showed you mercy. I said, "I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed king."

11Moreover, 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.

11Look, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! Since I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you, you can see and know that I am not planning any evil or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.

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

12May the LORD judge between you and me. May the LORD punish you for the wrong you have done to me, but I will not lay a hand on you.

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

13As the old proverb says, "Evil acts come from evil people," so I will not lay a hand on you.

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

14Who is the king of Israel coming out against? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?

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

15May the LORD be the judge and decide between us. May he look into it, defend my cause, and rescue me from your hand.'

16And 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.

16When David finished saying these things, Saul asked, 'Is that your voice, David my son?' Then Saul wept aloud.

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

17'You are more righteous than I am,' Saul said. 'You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

18And 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.

18You have just told me about the good things you did for me; when the LORD handed me over to you, you didn't kill me.

19For 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.

19If a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away safely? May the LORD reward you with good for how you treated me today.

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

20Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be secure in your hands.

21Swear 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.

21So swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.'

22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.

22David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to their mountain fortress.