And it came to pass, when Saul{H7586} was returned{H7725} from following{H310} the Philistines,{H6430} that it was told{H5046} him, saying,{H559} Behold, David{H1732} is in the wilderness{H4057} of En-gedi.{H5872}

Then Saul{H7586} took{H3947} three{H7969} thousand{H505} chosen{H977} men{H376} out of all Israel,{H3478} and went{H3212} to seek{H1245} David{H1732} and his men{H582} upon{H6440} the rocks{H6697} of the wild goats.{H3277}

And he came{H935} to the sheepcotes{H1448} by the way,{H1870} where was a cave;{H4631} and Saul{H7586} went in{H935} to cover{H5526} his feet.{H7272} Now David{H1732} and his men{H582} were abiding{H3427} in the innermost parts{H3411} of the cave.{H4631}

And the men{H582} of David{H1732} said{H559} unto him, Behold, the day{H3117} of which Jehovah{H3068} said{H559} unto thee, Behold, I will deliver{H5414} thine enemy{H341} into thy hand,{H3027} and thou shalt do{H6213} to him as it shall seem good{H3190} unto thee.{H5869} Then David{H1732} arose,{H6965} and cut off{H3772} the skirt{H3671} of Saul's{H7586} robe{H4598} privily.{H3909}

And it came to pass afterward,{H310} that David's{H1732} heart{H3820} smote{H5221} him, because he had cut off{H3772} Saul's{H7586} skirt.{H3671}

And he said{H559} unto his men,{H582} Jehovah{H3068} forbid{H2486} that I should do{H6213} this thing{H1697} unto my lord,{H113} Jehovah's{H3068} anointed,{H4899} to put forth{H7971} my hand{H3027} against him, seeing he is Jehovah's{H3068} anointed.{H4899}

So David{H1732} checked{H8156} his men{H582} with these words,{H1697} and suffered{H5414} them not to rise{H6965} against Saul.{H7586} And Saul{H7586} rose up{H6965} out of the cave,{H4631} and went{H3212} on his way.{H1870}

David{H1732} also arose{H6965} afterward, and went out{H3318} of the cave,{H4631} and cried{H7121} after{H310} Saul,{H7586} saying,{H559} My lord{H113} the king.{H4428} And when Saul{H7586} looked{H5027} behind{H310} him, David{H1732} bowed{H6915} with his face{H639} to the earth,{H776} and did obeisance.{H7812}

And David{H1732} said{H559} to Saul,{H7586} Wherefore hearkenest{H8085} thou to men's{H120} words,{H1697} saying,{H559} Behold, David{H1732} seeketh{H1245} thy hurt?{H7451}

Behold, this day{H3117} thine eyes{H5869} have seen{H7200} how that Jehovah{H3068} had delivered{H5414} thee to-day{H3117} into my hand{H3027} in the cave:{H4631} and some bade{H559} me kill{H2026} thee; but [mine eye] spared{H2347} thee; and I said,{H559} I will not put forth{H7971} my hand{H3027} against my lord;{H113} for he is Jehovah's{H113} anointed.{H4899}

Moreover, my father,{H1} see,{H7200} yea, see{H7200} the skirt{H3671} of thy robe{H4598} in my hand;{H3027} for in that I cut off{H3772} the skirt{H3671} of thy robe,{H4598} and killed{H2026} thee not, know{H3045} thou and see{H7200} that there is neither evil{H7451} nor transgression{H6588} in my hand,{H3027} and I have not sinned{H2398} against thee, though thou huntest{H6658} after my life{H5315} to take{H3947} it.

Jehovah{H3068} judge{H8199} between me and thee, and Jehovah{H3068} avenge{H5358} me of thee; but my hand{H3027} shall not be upon thee.

As saith{H559} the proverb{H4912} of the ancients,{H6931} Out of the wicked{H7563} cometh{H3318} forth wickedness;{H7562} but my hand{H3027} shall not be upon thee.

After{H310} whom is the king{H4428} of Israel{H3478} come out?{H3318} after{H310} whom dost thou pursue?{H7291} after{H310} a dead{H4191} dog,{H3611} after{H310} a{H259} flea.{H6550}

Jehovah{H3068} therefore be judge,{H1781} and give sentence{H8199} between me and thee, and see,{H7200} and plead{H7378} my cause,{H7379} and deliver{H8199} me out of thy hand.{H3027}

And it came to pass, when David{H1732} had made an end{H3615} of speaking{H1696} these words{H1697} unto Saul,{H7586} that Saul{H7586} said,{H559} Is this thy voice,{H6963} my son{H1121} David?{H1732} And Saul{H7586} lifted up{H5375} his voice,{H6963} and wept.{H1058}

And he said{H559} to David,{H1732} Thou art more righteous{H6662} than I; for thou hast rendered{H1580} unto me good,{H2896} whereas I have rendered{H1580} unto thee evil.{H7451}

And thou hast declared{H5046} this day{H3117} how that thou hast dealt{H6213} well{H2896} with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah{H3068} had delivered{H5462} me up into thy hand,{H3027} thou killedst{H2026} me not.

For if a man{H376} find{H4672} his enemy,{H341} will he let him go{H7971} well{H2896} away?{H1870} wherefore Jehovah{H3068} reward{H7999} thee good{H2896} for that which thou hast done{H6213} unto me this day.{H3117}

And now, behold, I know that{H3045} thou shalt surely{H4427} be king,{H4427} and that the kingdom{H4467} of Israel{H3478} shall be established{H6965} in thy hand.{H3027}

Swear{H7650} now therefore unto me by Jehovah,{H3068} that thou wilt not{H518} cut off{H3772} my seed{H2233} after{H310} me, and that thou wilt not destroy{H8045} my name{H8034} out of my father's{H1} house.{H1004}

And David{H1732} sware{H7650} unto Saul.{H7586} And Saul{H7586} went{H3212} home;{H1004} but David{H1732} and his men{H582} gat them up{H5927} unto the stronghold.{H4686}