1 Samuel 24 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

David Does Not Kill Saul

Now when^H834 Saul^H7586 returned^H7725 from pursuing^H310 the Philistines^H6430, he was told^H5046, saying^H559, “Behold^H2009, David^H1732 is in the wilderness^H4057 of Engedi^H5872.”

1Sa 24:2

1Sa 24:2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

1Sa 24:3

1Sa 24:3And he came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to [fn]relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave.

1Sa 24:4

1Sa 24:4Then the men of David said to him, “Behold, this is the day of which Yahweh said to you, ‘Behold, I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good in your eyes.’” Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe secretly.

1Sa 24:5

1Sa 24:5And it happened afterward that David’s heart struck him because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.

1Sa 24:6

1Sa 24:6So he said to his men, “Far be it from me because of Yahweh that I should do this thing to my lord, the anointed of Yahweh, to send forth my hand against him, since he is the anointed of Yahweh.”

1Sa 24:7

1Sa 24:7And David tore his men to pieces with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, [fn]left the cave, and went on his way.

1Sa 24:8

Now afterward^H310^H3651 David^H1732 arose^H6965 and went^H3318 out^H3318 of the cave^H4631 and called^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 [fn]face^H639 to the ground^H776 and prostrated^H2331 himself.

1Sa 24:9

1Sa 24:9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks [fn]to do you evil’?

1Sa 24:10

1Sa 24:10“Behold, this day your eyes have seen that Yahweh had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, ‘I will not send forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Yahweh.’

1Sa 24:11

1Sa 24:11“Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is no evil or transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it.

1Sa 24:12

1Sa 24:12“May Yahweh judge between [fn]you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

1Sa 24:13

1Sa 24:13“As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.

1Sa 24:14

1Sa 24:14“After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog, after a single flea?

1Sa 24:15

1Sa 24:15“Therefore Yahweh be judge and execute justice between [fn]you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and execute justice for me to escape from your hand.”

1Sa 24:16

Now it happened that when David^H1732 had finished^H3615 speaking^H1696 these^H428 words^H1697 to Saul^H7586, Saul^H7586 said^H559, “Is this^H2088 your voice^H6963, my son^H1121 David^H1732?” Then Saul^H7586 lifted^H5375 up^H5375 his voice^H6963 and wept^H1058.

1Sa 24:17

1Sa 24:17And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt evil with you.

1Sa 24:18

1Sa 24:18“And you have declared today that you have done good to me, that Yahweh surrendered me into your hand, and yet you did not kill me.

1Sa 24:19

1Sa 24:19“For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away [fn]safely? May Yahweh therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day.

1Sa 24:20