Dual Panel1When <0834> Saul <07586> returned <07725> from pursuing <0310> the Philistines <06430>, they told <05046> him, “Look <02009>, David <01732> is in the desert <04057> of En Gedi <05872>.”
2So Saul <07586> took <03947> three <07969> thousand <0505> select <0970> men <0376> from all <03605> Israel <03478> and went <01980> to find <01245> David <01732> and his men <0376> in the region <06440> of the rocks <06697> of the mountain goats <03277>.
3He came <0935> to <0413> the sheepfolds <06629> <01448> by <05921> the road <01870>, where there <08033> was a cave <04631>. Saul <07586> went <0935> into it to relieve <05526> himself <07272>. Now David <01732> and his men <0376> were sitting <03427> in the recesses <03411> of the cave <04631>.
4David’s <01732> men <0376> said <0559> to <0413> him, “This is the day <03117> about which <0834> the Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> you, ‘I <0595> will give <05414> your enemy <0341> into your hand <03027>, and you can do <06213> to him whatever <0834> seems appropriate <03190> to you.’” So David <01732> got up <06965> and quietly <03909> cut off <03772> an edge <03671> of Saul’s <07586> robe <04598>.
5Afterward <03651> <0310> David’s <01732> conscience <03820> bothered <05221> him because <0834> he had cut off <03772> an edge <03671> of Saul’s <07586> robe.
6He said <0559> to his men <0582>, “May the Lord <03069> keep me far away from <02486> doing <06213> such <02088> a thing <01697> to my lord <0113>, who is the Lord’s <03069> chosen one <04899>, by extending <07971> my hand <03027> against him. After all <03588>, he <01931> is the Lord’s <03069> chosen one <04899>.”
7David <01732> restrained <08156> his men <0376> with these words <01697> and did not <03808> allow <05414> them to rise up <06965> against <0413> Saul <07586>. Then Saul <07586> left <06965> the cave <04631> and started down <01980> the road <01870>.
8Afterward <0310> David <01732> got up <06965> and <03651> went out <03318> of the cave <04631>. He called out <07121> after <0310> Saul <07586>, “My lord <0113>, O king <04428>!” When Saul <07586> looked <05027> behind <0310> him, David <01732> kneeled down <06915> and bowed <07812> with his face <0639> to the ground <0776>.
9David <01732> said <0559> to Saul <07586>, “Why <04100> do you pay attention <08085> when men <0120> say <0559>, ‘David <01732> is seeking <01245> to do you harm <07451>’?
10Today <02088> <03117> your own eyes <05869> see <07200> how <0834> the Lord <03068> delivered <05414> you– this very day <03117>– into my hands <03027> in the cave <04631>. Some told <0559> me to kill <02026> you, but I had pity <02347> on <05921> you and said <0559>, ‘I will not <03808> extend <07971> my hand <03027> against my lord <0113>, for <03588> he <01931> is the Lord’s <03068> chosen one <04899>.’
11Look <07200>, my father <01>, and <01571> see <07200> the edge <03671> of your robe <04598> in my hand <03027>! When <03588> I cut off <03772> the edge <03671> of your robe <04598>, I didn’t <03808> kill <02026> you. So realize <03045> and understand <07200> that <03588> I am not <0369> planning evil <07451> or rebellion <06588>. Even though I have not <03808> sinned <02398> against you, you <0859> are waiting <06658> in ambush to take <03947> my life <05315>.
12May the Lord <03068> judge <08199> between <0996> the two of us, and <0996> may the Lord <03068> vindicate <05358> me over <04480> you, but my hand <03027> will not <03808> be <01961> against you.
13It’s like the old <06931> proverb <04912> says <0559>: ‘From evil people <07561> evil <07562> proceeds <03318>.’ But my hand <03027> will not <03808> be <01961> against you.
14Who <04310> has the king <04428> of Israel <03478> come out <03318> after <0310>? Who <04310> is it that you <0859> are pursuing <0310> <07291>? A dead <04191> dog <03611>? A single <0259> flea <06550>?
15May the Lord <03068> be <01961> our judge <01781> and arbiter <08199>. May he see <07200> and arbitrate <07378> my case <07379> and deliver <08199> me from your hands <03027>!”
16When David <01732> finished <03615> speaking <01696> these <0428> words <01697> to <0413> Saul <07586>, Saul <07586> said <0559>, “Is that <02088> your voice <06963>, my son <01121> David <01732>?” Then Saul <07586> wept <01058> loudly <06963>.
17He said <0559> to <0413> David <01732>, “You <0859> are more innocent <06662> than <04480> I, for <03588> you <0859> have treated <01580> me well <02896>, even though I <0589> have tried <01580> to harm <07451> you!
18You <0859> have explained <05046> today <03117> how <0834> you have treated <06213> me well <02896>. The Lord <03068> delivered me into your hand <03027>, but you did not <03808> kill <02026> me.
19Now if a man <0376> finds <04672> his enemy <0341>, does he send <07971> him on his way <01870> in good <02896> shape? May the Lord <03068> repay <07999> you with good <02896> this <02088> day <03117> for <08478> what <0834> you have done <06213> to me.
20Now <06258> look <02009>, I realize <03045> that <03588> you will in fact be king <04427> <04427> and that the kingdom <04467> of Israel <03478> will be established <06965> in your hand <03027>.
21So now <06258> swear <07650> to me in the Lord’s <03068> name that you will not <0518> kill <03772> my descendants <02233> after <0310> me or <0518> destroy <08045> my name <08034> from the house <01004> of my father <01>.”
22David <01732> promised <07650> Saul <07586> this on oath <07650>. Then Saul <07586> went <01980> to <0413> his house <01004>, and David <01732> and his men <0376> went up <05927> to <05921> the stronghold <04686>.