1 And it came to pass,1961 when834 Saul7586 was returned7725 from following4480 310 the Philistines,6430 that it was told5046 him, saying,559 Behold,2009 David1732 is in the wilderness4057 of En-gedi.5872

2 Then Saul7586 took3947 three7969 thousand505 chosen977 men376 out of all4480 3605 Israel,3478 and went1980 to seek1245 853 David1732 and his men376 upon592 6440 the rocks6697 of the wild goats.3277

3 And he came935 to413 the sheepcotes1448 6629 by5921 the way,1870 where8033 was a cave;4631 and Saul7586 went in935 to cover5526 853 his feet:7272 and David1732 and his men376 remained3427 in the sides3411 of the cave.4631

4 And the men376 of David1732 said559 unto413 him, Behold2009 the day3117 of which834 the LORD3068 said559 unto413 thee, Behold,2009 I595 will deliver5414 853 thine enemy341 into thine hand,3027 that thou mayest do6213 to him as834 it shall seem good3190 5869 unto thee. Then David1732 arose,6965 and cut off3772 853 the skirt3671 of Saul's7586 robe4598 privily.3909

5 And it came to pass1961 afterward,310 3651 that David's1732 heart3820 smote5221 him, because5921 834 he had cut off3772 853 Saul's7586 skirt.3671

6 And he said559 unto his men,376 The LORD4480 3068 forbid2486 that518 I should do6213 853 this2088 thing1697 unto my master,113 the LORD's3068 anointed,4899 to stretch forth7971 mine hand3027 against him, seeing3588 he1931 is the anointed4899 of the LORD.3068

7 So David1732 stayed8156 853 his servants376 with these words,1697 and suffered5414 them not3808 to rise6965 against413 Saul.7586 But Saul7586 rose up6965 out of the cave,4480 4631 and went1980 on his way.1870

8 David1732 also arose6965 afterward,310 3651 and went out3318 of4480 the cave,4631 and cried7121 after310 Saul,7586 saying,559 My lord113 the king.4428 And when Saul7586 looked5027 behind310 him, David1732 stooped6915 with his face639 to the earth,776 and bowed himself.7812

9 And David1732 said559 to Saul,7586 Wherefore4100 hearest8085 thou853 men's120 words,1697 saying,559 Behold,2009 David1732 seeketh1245 thy hurt?7451

10 Behold,2009 this2088 day3117 thine eyes5869 have seen7200 853 how834 that the LORD3068 had delivered5414 thee today3117 into mine hand3027 in the cave:4631 and some bade559 me kill2026 thee: but mine eye spared2347 5921 thee; and I said,559 I will not3808 put forth7971 mine hand3027 against my lord;113 for3588 he1931 is the LORD's3068 anointed.4899

11 Moreover, my father,1 see,7200 yea,1571 see7200 853 the skirt3671 of thy robe4598 in my hand:3027 for3588 in that I cut off3772 853 the skirt3671 of thy robe,4598 and killed2026 thee not,3808 know3045 thou and see7200 that3588 there is neither369 evil7451 nor transgression6588 in mine hand,3027 and I have not3808 sinned2398 against thee; yet thou859 huntest6658 853 my soul5315 to take3947 it.

12 The LORD3068 judge8199 between996 me and thee, and the LORD3068 avenge5358 me of4480 thee: but mine hand3027 shall not3808 be1961 upon thee.

13 As834 saith559 the proverb4912 of the ancients,6931 Wickedness7562 proceedeth3318 from the wicked:4480 7563 but mine hand3027 shall not3808 be1961 upon thee.

14 After310 whom4310 is the king4428 of Israel3478 come out?3318 after310 whom4310 dost thou859 pursue?7291 after310 a dead4191 dog,3611 after310 a259 flea.6550

15 The LORD3068 therefore be1961 judge,1781 and judge8199 between996 me and thee, and see,7200 and plead7378 853 my cause,7379 and deliver8199 me out of thine hand.4480 3027

16 And it came to pass,1961 when David1732 had made an end3615 of speaking1696 853 these428 words1697 unto413 Saul,7586 that Saul7586 said,559 Is this2088 thy voice,6963 my son1121 David?1732 And Saul7586 lifted up5375 his voice,6963 and wept.1058

17 And he said559 to413 David,1732 Thou859 art more righteous6662 than4480 I: for3588 thou859 hast rewarded1580 me good,2896 whereas I589 have rewarded1580 thee evil.7451

18 And thou859 hast showed5046 this day3117 853 how that834 thou hast dealt6213 well2896 with854 me: 853 forasmuch as when834 the LORD3068 had delivered5462 me into thine hand,3027 thou killedst2026 me not.3808

19 For if3588 a man376 find4672 853 his enemy,341 will he let him go7971 well2896 away?1870 wherefore the LORD3068 reward7999 thee good2896 for8478 that834 thou hast done6213 unto me this2088 day.3117

20 And now,6258 behold,2009 I know well3045 that3588 thou shalt surely be king,4427 4427 and that the kingdom4467 of Israel3478 shall be established6965 in thine hand.3027

21 Swear7650 now6258 therefore unto me by the LORD,3068 that518 thou wilt not cut off3772 853 my seed2233 after310 me, and that518 thou wilt not destroy8045 853 my name8034 out of my father's house.4480 1004 1

22 And David1732 swore7650 unto Saul.7586 And Saul7586 went1980 413 home;1004 but David1732 and his men376 got them up5927 unto5921 the hold.4686