1 Samuel 24

1 Samuel Chapter 24 KJV

1David in a cave at En-gedi cutteth off Saul's skirt, but spareth his life: 8he urgeth this as a proof of his innocency. 16Saul acknowledgeth his fault, taketh an oath of David, and departeth.
1 And it came to pass, when Saul was returned 1from afollowing the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.
2 Then Saul 1took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.
3 And he came to the 1sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul 2went in to cover his feet: and 3David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
4 And the men of David said unto him, 1Behold 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 aSaul's robe privily.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that 1David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6 And he said unto his men, 1The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, 2the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
7 So 1David astayed 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.
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.
9 ¶ And David said to Saul, 1Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and 1some 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.
11 Moreover, 1my 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 2there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou 3huntest my soul to take it.
12 The 1Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, 1Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine 2hand shall not be upon thee.
14 After whom is 1the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after 2a dead dog, after a flea.
15 The Lord therefore 1be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and adeliver me out of thine hand.
16 ¶ And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is 1this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and 2wept.
17 And he said to David, 1Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had adelivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
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.
20 And now, behold, 1I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.
21 1Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, 2that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22 And David sware 1unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
1 Samuel 24