1 Samuel 24
Catholic Public Domain Version
1Then David ascended from there, and he lived in very secure places in Engedi.
2And when Saul had returned after pursuing the Philistines, they reported to him, saying, “Behold, David is in the desert of Engedi.”
3Therefore, Saul, taking three thousand elect men from all of Israel, traveled in order to search for David and his men, even upon the most broken rocks, which are passable only to mountain goats.
4And he arrived at the sheepfolds, which presented themselves along the way. And a cave was in that place, which Saul entered, so that he might ease his bowels. But David and his men were hiding in the interior part of the cave.
5And the servants of David said to him: “Behold the day, about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will deliver your enemy to you, so that you may do to him as it will be pleasing in your eyes.’ ” Then David rose up, and he quietly cut off the edge of Saul’s cloak.
6After this, his own heart struck David, because he had cut off the edge of Saul’s cloak.
7And he said to his men: “May the Lord be gracious to me, lest I do this thing to my lord, the Christ of the Lord, so that I lay my hand upon him. For he is the Christ of the Lord.”
8And David restrained his men with his words, and he would not permit them to rise up against Saul. And so Saul, going out of the cave, continued to undertake his journey.
9Then David also rose up after him. And departing from the cave, he cried out behind the back of Saul, saying: “My lord, the king!” And Saul looked behind him. And David, bowing himself face down to the ground, reverenced.
10And he said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say: ‘David seeks evil against you?’
11Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord has delivered you into my hand, in the cave. And I thought that I might kill you. But my eye has spared you. For I said: I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Christ of the Lord.
12Moreover, see and know, O my father, the edge of your cloak in my hand. For though I cut off the top of your cloak, I was not willing to extend my hand against you. Turn your soul and see that there is no evil in my hand, nor any iniquity or sin against you. Yet you lie in wait for my life, so that you may take it away.
13May the Lord judge between me and you. And may the Lord vindicate me from you. But my hand will not be against you.
14So too, it is said in the ancient proverb, ‘From the impious, impiety will go forth.’ Therefore, my hand will not be upon you.
15Whom are you pursuing, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? You are pursuing a dead dog, a single flea.
16May the Lord be the judge, and may he judge between me and you. And may he see and judge my case, and rescue me from your hand.”
17And when David had completed speaking words in this way to Saul, Saul said, “Could this be your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice, and he wept.
18And he said to David: “You are more just than I am. For you have distributed good to me, but I have repaid evil to you.
19And you have revealed this day the good that you have done for me: how the Lord delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me.
20For who, when he will have found his enemy, will release him along a good path? So may the Lord repay you for this good turn, because you have acted on my behalf this day.
21And now I know certainly that you shall be king, and you shall have the kingdom of Israel in your hand.
22Swear to me in the Lord that you will not take away my offspring after me, nor take away my name from the house of my father.”
23And David swore to Saul. Therefore, Saul went away to his own house. And David and his men ascended to places that were more secure.
Reina-Valera 1909
1ENTONCES David subió de allí, y habitó en los parajes fuertes en Engaddi.
2Y como Saúl volvió de los Filisteos, diéronle aviso diciendo: He aquí que David está en el desierto de Engaddi.
3Y tomando Saúl tres mil hombres escogidos de todo Israel, fué en busca de David y de los suyos, por las cumbres de los peñascos de las cabras monteses.
4Y como llegó á una majada de ovejas en el camino, donde había una cueva, entró Saúl en ella á cubrir sus pies: y David y los suyos estaban á los lados de la cueva.
5Entonces los de David le dijeron: He aquí el día de que te ha dicho Jehová: He aquí que entrego tu enemigo en tus manos, y harás con él como te pareciere. Y levantóse David, y calladamente cortó la orilla del manto de Saúl.
6Después de lo cual el corazón de David le golpeaba, porque había cortado la orilla del manto de Saúl.
7Y dijo á los suyos: Jehová me guarde de hacer tal cosa contra mi señor, el ungido de Jehová, que yo extienda mi mano contra él; porque es el ungido de Jehová.
8Así quebrantó David á los suyos con palabras, y no les permitió que se levantasen contra Saúl. Y Saúl, saliendo de la cueva, fuése su camino.
9También David se levantó después, y saliendo de la cueva dió voces á las espaldas de Saúl, diciendo: ¡Mi señor el rey! Y como Saúl miró atrás, David inclinó su rostro á tierra, é hizo reverencia.
10Y dijo David á Saúl: ¿Por qué oyes las palabras de los que dicen: Mira que David procura tu mal?
11He aquí han visto hoy tus ojos como Jehová te ha puesto hoy en mis manos en la cueva: y dijeron que te matase, mas te perdoné, porque dije: No extenderé mi mano contra mi señor, porque ungido es de Jehová.
12Y mira, padre mío, mira aún la orilla de tu manto en mi mano: porque yo corté la orilla de tu manto, y no te maté. Conoce pues, y ve que no hay mal ni traición en mi mano, ni he pecado contra ti; con todo, tú andas á caza de mi vida para quitármela.
13Juzgue Jehová entre mí y ti, y véngueme de ti Jehová: empero mi mano no será contra ti.
14Como dice el proverbio de los antiguos: De los impíos saldrá la impiedad: así que mi mano no será contra ti.
15¿Tras quién ha salido el rey de Israel? ¿á quién persigues? ¿á un perro muerto? ¿á una pulga?
16Jehová pues será juez, y él juzgará entre mí y ti. El vea, y sustente mi causa, y me defienda de tu mano.
17Y aconteció que, como David acabó de decir estas palabras á Saúl, Saúl dijo: ¿No es esta la voz tuya, hijo mío David? Y alzando Saúl su voz lloró.
18Y dijo á David: Más justo eres tú que yo, que me has pagado con bien, habiéndote yo pagado con mal.
19Tú has mostrado hoy que has hecho conmigo bien; pues no me has muerto, habiéndome Jehová puesto en tus manos.
20Porque ¿quién hallará á su enemigo, y lo dejará ir sano y salvo? Jehová te pague con bien por lo que en este día has hecho conmigo.
21Y ahora, como yo entiendo que tú has de reinar, y que el reino de Israel ha de ser en tu mano firme y estable,
22Júrame pues ahora por Jehová, que no cortarás mi simiente después de mí, ni raerás mi nombre de la casa de mi padre. Entonces David juró á Saúl. Y fuése Saúl á su casa, y David y los suyos se subieron al sitio fuerte.
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King James Version
1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily.
5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed.
11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.
22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
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World English Bible
1When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
3He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave.
4David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
7So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you’?
10Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
11Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
18You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which you have done to me today.
20Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
21Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
22David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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