1 Samuel 24 And when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and was told by men, saying, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi,

Thomson⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ And when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, and was told by men, saying, David is in the wilderness of Engaddi, ² he took with him three thousand men, selected out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in front of Saddaiem. ³ And when he came to the sheepcots by the way side, where there was a cave, Saul went into it to prepare himself. Now David and his men had taken up their abode in the inner part of the cave. ⁴ So David's men said to him, Behold this is the day, which the Lord mentioned to thee, that he would deliver thine enemy into thy hands, that thou mayst do to him what seemeth good in thine eyes. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's cloak privily. ⁵ And after this David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the skirt of Saul's cloak. ⁶ And David said to his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the anointed of the Lord, to lift up my hand against him; for he is the Lord's anointed. ⁷ So David prevailed on his men by these words, and did not permit them to rise, and kill Saul. And when Saul arose and went on his way, ⁸ David went after him out of the cave. And David cried with a loud voice after Saul, and said, My lord, king! And when Saul looked about behind him, David bowed down, with his face to the ground, and made obeisance to him. ⁹ Then David said to Saul, Why dost thou hearken to the words of the people who say, Behold David seeketh thy life? ¹⁰ Behold this very day thine eyes have seen, how the Lord delivered thee to-day into my hands, in the cave, and I would not kill thee, but spared thee, and said, I will not lift up my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord's anointed. ¹¹ Now behold here is the skirt of thy cloak in my hand. I cut off the skirt, but did not kill thee. Know, therefore, and see now that there is no wickedness in my hand; no impiety or disloyalty; nor have I sinned against thee, though thou huntest my life to take it. ¹² The Lord judge between me and thee. And the Lord avenge thee on thyself. Let not my hand be upon thee. ¹³ According to the old proverb, From the wicked will proceed transgression. So let not my hand be upon thee. ¹⁴ And now, after whom art thou coming out, king of Israel? And after whom art thou in pursuit? After a dead dog? Or after a flea? ¹⁵ The Lord be a judge, and a discerner of right, between me and thee. May the Lord see, and judge my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand! ¹⁶ And when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul raised his voice, and wept. ¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast returned me good; but I have returned thee evil. ¹⁸ Thou hast indeed proved to me this day the good thou hast done me; as the Lord delivered me this day into thy hands, and thou hast not slain me. ¹⁹ Now, because if any man find his enemy in distress, and send him away well, the Lord will reward him with good, ²⁰ therefore now behold I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in thy hand. ²¹ Now therefore swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy my seed after me; nor blot out my name from the house of my father. ²² So David sword to Saul, and Saul departed to his place, and David and his men went up to the straits of Messara.