1 And it came1961 to pass, when834 Saul7586 was returned7725 from following310 the Philistines,6430 that it was told5046 him, saying,559 Behold,2009 David1732 is in the wilderness4057 of Engedi.5872

2 Then Saul7586 took3947 three7969 thousand505 chosen970 men376 out of all3605 Israel,3478 and went3212 to seek1245 David1732 and his men582 on the rocks6697 of the wild3277 goats.3277

3 And he came935 to the sheepcotes1448 6629 by the way,1870 where8033 was a cave;4631 and Saul7586 went935 in to cover5526 his feet:7272 and David1732 and his men582 remained3427 in the sides3411 of the cave.4631

4 And the men582 of David1732 said559 to him, Behold2009 the day3117 of which834 the LORD3068 said559 to you, Behold,2009 I will deliver5414 your enemy341 into your hand,3027 that you may do6213 to him as it shall seem1961 5869 good3190 to you. Then David1732 arose,6965 and cut3772 off the skirt3671 of Saul's7586 robe4598 privately.3909

5 And it came1961 to pass afterward,310 3651 that David's1732 heart3820 smote5221 him, because5921 834 he had cut3772 off Saul's7586 skirt.3671

6 And he said559 to his men,582 The LORD3068 forbid2486 that I should do6213 this2088 thing1697 to my master,113 the LORD's3068 anointed,4899 to stretch7971 forth my hand3027 against him, seeing he is the anointed4899 of the LORD.3068

7 So David1732 stayed8156 his servants582 with these words,1697 and suffered5414 them not to rise6965 against413 Saul.7586 But Saul7586 rose6965 up out of the cave,4631 and went3212 on his way.1870

8 David1732 also arose6965 afterward,310 3651 and went3318 out of 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 bowed7812 himself.

9 And David1732 said559 to Saul,7586 Why4100 hear8085 you men's120 words,1697 saying,559 Behold,2009 David1732 seeks1245 your hurt?7451

10 Behold,2009 this2088 day3117 your eyes5869 have seen7200 how834 that the LORD3068 had delivered5414 you to day3117 into my hand3027 in the cave:4631 and some bade559 me kill2026 you: but my eye spared2347 you; and I said,559 I will not put7971 forth7971 my hand3027 against my lord;113 for he is the LORD's3068 anointed.4899

11 Moreover, my father,1 see,7200 yes,637 see7200 the skirt3671 of your robe4598 in my hand:3027 for in that I cut3772 off the skirt3671 of your robe,4598 and killed2026 you not, know3045 you and see7200 that there is neither369 evil7451 nor transgression6588 in my hand,3027 and I have not sinned2398 against you; yet you hunt6658 my soul5315 to take3947 it.

12 The LORD3068 judge8199 between996 me and you, and the LORD3068 avenge5358 me of you: but my hand3027 shall not be on you.

13 As said559 the proverb4912 of the ancients,6931 Wickedness7562 proceeds3318 from the wicked:7563 but my hand3027 shall not be on you.

14 After310 whom4310 is the king4428 of Israel3478 come3318 out? after310 whom4310 do you pursue?7291 after310 a dead4191 dog,3611 after310 a flea.6550

15 The LORD3068 therefore be judge,1784 and judge8199 between996 me and you, and see,7200 and plead7378 my cause,7379 and deliver8199 me out of your hand.3027

16 And it came1961 to pass, when David1732 had made an end3615 of speaking1696 these428 words1697 to Saul,7586 that Saul7586 said,559 Is this2088 your voice,6963 my son1121 David?1732 And Saul7586 lifted5375 up his voice,6963 and wept.1058

17 And he said559 to David,1732 You are more righteous6662 than I: for you have rewarded1580 me good,2896 whereas I have rewarded1580 you evil.7451

18 And you have showed5046 this day3117 how that you have dealt6213 well2896 with me: for as much854 834 as when the LORD3068 had delivered5462 me into your hand,3027 you killed2026 me not.

19 For if3588 a man376 find4672 his enemy,341 will he let him go7971 well2896 away?1870 why the LORD3068 reward7999 you good2896 for that you have done6213 to me this2088 day.3117

20 And now,6258 behold,2009 I know3045 well that you shall surely be king,4428 and that the kingdom4467 of Israel3478 shall be established6965 in your hand.3027

21 Swear7650 now6258 therefore to me by the LORD,3068 that you will not cut3772 off my seed2233 after310 me, and that you will not destroy8045 my name8034 out of my father's1 house.1004

22 And David1732 swore7650 to Saul.7586 And Saul7586 went3212 home;1004 but David1732 and his men582 got5927 them up to the hold.4686