Dual Panel1Now when<3512> Saul<7586> returned<7725> from pursuing<310> the Philistines<6430>, he was told<5046>, saying<559>, "Behold<2009>, David<1732> is in the wilderness<4057> of Engedi<5872>."
2Then Saul<7586> took<3947> three<7969> thousand<505> chosen<977> men<376> from all<3605> Israel<3478> and went<1980> to seek<1245> David<1732> and his men<376> in front<6440> of the Rocks<6697> of the Wild<3277> Goats<3277>.
3He came<935> to the sheepfolds<6629><1448> on the way<1870>, where<8033> there<8033> was a cave<4631>; and Saul<7586> went<935> in to relieve<5526><7272> himself. Now David<1732> and his men<376> were sitting<3427> in the inner<3411> recesses<3411> of the cave<4631>.
4The men<376> of David<1732> said<559> to him, "Behold<2009>, this is the day<3117> of which<834> the LORD<3068> said<559> to you, 'Behold<2009>; I am about to give<5414> your enemy<340> into your hand<3027>, and you shall do<6213> to him as it seems<3190> good<3190> to you.'" Then David<1732> arose<6965> and cut<3772> off<3772> the edge<3671> of Saul's<7586> robe<4598> secretly<3909>.
5It came<1961> about afterward<310><3651> that David's<1732> conscience<3820> bothered<5221> him because<5921><834> he had cut<3772> off<3772> the edge<3671> of Saul's<7586> robe.
6So he said<559> to his men<376>, "Far<2486> be it from me because<4480> of the LORD<3068> that I should do<6213> this<2088> thing<1697> to my lord<113>, the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899>, to stretch<7971> out my hand<3027> against him, since<3588> he is the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899>."
7David<1732> persuaded<8156> his men<376> with these words<1697> and did not allow<5414> them to rise<6965> up against<413> Saul<7586>. And Saul<7586> arose<6965>, left<4480> the cave<4631>, and went<1980> on his way<1870>.
8Now afterward<310><3651> David<1732> arose<6965> and went<3318> out of the cave<4631> and called<7121> after<310> Saul<7586>, saying<559>, "My lord<113> the king<4428>!" And when Saul<7586> looked<5027> behind<310> him, David<1732> bowed<6915> with his face<639> to the ground<776> and prostrated<7812> himself.
9David<1732> said<559> to Saul<7586>, "Why<4100> do you listen<8085> to the words<1697> of men<120>, saying<559>, 'Behold<2009>, David<1732> seeks<1245> to harm<7463> you'?
10"Behold<2009>, this<2088> day<3117> your eyes<5869> have seen<7200> that the LORD<3068> had given<5414> you today<3117> into my hand<3027> in the cave<4631>, and some said<559> to kill<2026> you, but my eye had pity<2347> on you; and I said<559>, 'I will not stretch<7971> out my hand<3027> against my lord<113>, for he is the LORD'S<3068> anointed<4899>.'
11"Now, my father<1>, see<7200>! Indeed<1571>, see<7200> the edge<3671> of your robe<4598> in my hand<3027>! For in that I cut<3772> off<3772> the edge<3671> of your robe<4598> and did not kill<2026> you, know<3045> and perceive<7200> that there<369> is no<369> evil<7463> or rebellion<6588> in my hands<3027>, and I have not sinned<2398> against you, though you are lying<6658> in wait<6658> for my life<5315> to take<3947> it.
12"May the LORD<3068> judge<8199> between<996> you and me, and may the LORD<3068> avenge<5358> me on you; but my hand<3027> shall not be against you.
13"As the proverb<4912> of the ancients<6931> says<559>, 'Out of the wicked<7563> comes<3318> forth<3318> wickedness<7562>'; but my hand<3027> shall not be against you.
14"After<310> whom<4310> has the king<4428> of Israel<3478> come<3318> out? Whom<4310> are you pursuing<7291>? A dead<4191> dog<3611>, a single<259> flea<6550>?
15"The LORD<3068> therefore be judge<1781> and decide<8199> between<996> you and me; and may He see<7200> and plead<7378> my cause<7379> and deliver<8199> me from your hand<3027>."
16When David<1732> had finished<3615> speaking<1696> these<428> words<1697> to Saul<7586>, Saul<7586> said<559>, "Is this<2088> your voice<6963>, my son<1121> David<1732>?" Then Saul<7586> lifted<5375> up his voice<6963> and wept<1058>.
17He said<559> to David<1732>, "You are more<4480> righteous<6662> than<4480> I; for you have dealt<1580> well<2899> with me, while I have dealt<1580> wickedly<7463> with you.
18"You have declared<5046> today<3117> that you have done<6213> good<2899> to me, that the LORD<3068> delivered<5462> me into your hand<3027> and yet you did not kill<2026> me.
19"For if<3588> a man<376> finds<4672> his enemy<340>, will he let him go<7971> away<7971> safely<2896><1870>? May the LORD<3068> therefore reward<7999> you with good<2899> in return<8478> for what<834> you have done<6213> to me this<2088> day<3117>.
20"Now<6258>, behold<2009>, I know<3045> that you will surely<4427> be king<4427>, and that the kingdom<4467> of Israel<3478> will be established<6965> in your hand<3027>.
21"So now<6258> swear<7650> to me by the LORD<3068> that you will not cut<3772> off<3772> my descendants<2233> after<310> me and that you will not destroy<8045> my name<8034> from my father's<1> household<1004>."
22David<1732> swore<7650> to Saul<7586>. And Saul<7586> went<1980> to his home<1004>, but David<1732> and his men<376> went<5927> up to the stronghold<4686>.