1SA-24:1  And 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 Engedi.

1SA-24:2  Then 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.

1SA-24:3  And 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.

1SA-24:4  And 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.

1SA-24:5  And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart

smote him,

because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

1SA-24:6  And 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.

1SA-24:7  So 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.

1SA-24:8  David 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.

1SA-24:9  And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's

words,

saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

1SA-24:10  Behold, 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.

1SA-24:11  Moreover, 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.

1SA-24:12  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD

avenge me

of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

1SA-24:13  As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness

proceedeth

from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

1SA-24:14  After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom

dost

thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

1SA-24:15  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and

thee,

and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

1SA-24:16  And 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.

1SA-24:17  And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than

I: for

thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

1SA-24:18  And thou hast showed 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.

1SA-24:19  For 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.

1SA-24:20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be

king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in

thine

hand.

1SA-24:21  Swear 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.

1SA-24:22  And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but

David

and his men gat them up unto the hold.



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