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Chapter 24
1 Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds of Engaddi.
2 And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi.
3 Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.
4 And he came to the sheepcotes, which were in his way. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave.
5 And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which the Lord said to you: I will deliver your enemy unto you, that you may do to him as it shall seem good in your eyes. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul's robe.
6 After which David's heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem of Saul's robe.
7 And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord's anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord's anointed.
8 And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rising up out of the cave, went on his way.
9 And David also rose up after him: and going out of the cave cried after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And Saul looked behind him: and David bowing himself down to the ground, worshipped,
10 And said to Saul: Why do you hear the words of men that say David seeks your hurt?
11 Behold this day your eyes have seen, that the Lord has delivered you into my hand, in the cave, and I had a thought to kill you, but my eye has spared you. For I said: I will not put out my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord's anointed.
12 Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of your robe in my hand, that when I cut, off the hem of your robe, I would not put out my hand against you. Reflect, and see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity, neither have I sinned against you: but you lie in wait for my life, to take it away.
13 The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord revenge me of you: but my hand shall not be upon you.
14 As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon you. After whom do you come out, O king of Israel?
15 After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.
16 Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and you, and see, and judge my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
17 And when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, Saul said: Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
18 And he said to David: you are more just than I: for you have done good to me, and I have rewarded you with evil.
19 And you have shewn this day what good things you have done to me: how the Lord delivered me into your hand, and you have not killed me.
20 For who when he has found his enemy, will let him go well away? But the Lord reward you for this good turn, for what you have done to me this day.
21 And now as I know that you shall surely be king, and have the kingdom of Israel in your hand:
22 Swear to me by the Lord, that you will not destroy my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.
23 And David swore to Saul. So Saul went home: and David and his men went up into safer places.