1Sa 24 | NASB1995 | STEP | Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines , he was told , saying , “ Behold , David is in the wilderness of Engedi .”

1 Now ^awhen Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, ^bhe was told, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then ^cSaul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. 3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul ^dwent in to ^{▼▼ Lit cover his feet}relieve himself. Now ^fDavid and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4 The men of David said to him, “Behold, ^g this is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold; ^hI am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good ^{▼▼ Lit in your sight}to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly. 5 It came about afterward that ^jDavid’s ^{▼▼ Lit heart struck}conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe. 6 So he said to his men, ^l“Far be it from me because of the Lord that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 David ^{▼▼ Lit tore apart}persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, ^{▼▼ Lit from}left the cave, and went on his way.

8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, ^oDavid bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks ^{▼▼ Lit your hurt}to harm you’? 10 ^q“Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today into my hand in the cave, and ^rsome said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 “Now, ^smy father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or ^{▼▼ Lit transgression}rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you ^uare lying in wait for my life to take it. 12 ^v“May the Lord judge between ^{▼▼ Lit me and you}you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13 “As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘ ^xOut of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 “After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? ^yA dead dog, ^za single flea? 15 ^aa“The Lord therefore be judge and decide between ^{▼▼ Lit me and you}you and me; and may He see and ^acplead my cause and ^{▼▼ Lit vindicate}deliver me from your hand.”

16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, ^ae“Is this your voice, my son David?” Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 ^afHe said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for ^agyou have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. 18 “You have declared today that you have done good to me, that ^ahthe Lord delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. 19 “For if a man ^aifinds his enemy, will he let him go away ^{▼▼ Lit on a good road}safely? May the Lord therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20 “Now, behold, ^akI know that you will surely be king, and that ^althe kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 “So now ^amswear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my ^{▼▼ Lit seed}descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father’s household.” 22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to ^aothe stronghold.