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The First
Book of Samuel 24
Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong
holds of Engaddi.
And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines,
they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert
of Engaddi.
Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of
all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his
men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible
only to wild goats.
And he came to the sheepcotes, which were in his way.
And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease
nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part
of the cave.
And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day,
of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy
unto thee, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem
good in thy eyes. Then David arose, and secretly cut
off the hem of Saul's robe.
After which David's heart struck him, because he had
cut off the hem of Saul's robe.
And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me,
that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord's
anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is
the Lord's anointed.
And David stopped his men with his words, and suffered
them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rising up out
of the cave, went on his way.
And David also rose up after him: and going out of the
cave cried after Saul, saying: My lord the king. And
Saul looked behind him: and David bowing himself down
to the ground, worshipped,
And said to Saul: Why dost thou hear the words of men
that say David seeketh thy hurt?
Behold this day thy eyes have seen, that the Lord hath
delivered thee into my hand, in the cave, and I had
a thought to kill thee, but my eye hath spared thee.
For I said: I will not put out my hand against my lord,
because he is the Lord's anointed.
Moreover see and know, O my father, the hem of thy robe
in my hand, that when I cut, off the hem of thy robe,
I would not put out my hand against thee. Reflect, and
see, that there is no evil in my hand, nor iniquity,
neither have I sinned against thee: but thou liest in
wait for my life, to take it away.
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord revenge
me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.
As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked
shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall
not be upon thee. After whom dost thou come out, O king
of Israel?
After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after
a flea.
Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and thee, and
see, and judge my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.
And when David had made an end of speaking these words
to Saul, Saul said: Is this thy voice, my son David?
And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
And he said to David: Thou art more just than I: for
thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee
with evil.
And thou hast shewn this day what good things thou hast
done to me: how the Lord delivered me into thy hand,
and thou hast not killed me.
For who when he hath found his enemy, will let him go
well away? But the Lord reward thee for this good turn,
for what thou hast done to me this day.
And now as I know that thou shalt surely be king, and
have the kingdom of Israel in thy hand:
Swear to me by the Lord, that thou wilt not destroy
my seed after me, nor take away my name from the house
of my father.
And David swore to Saul. So Saul went home: and David
and his men went up into safer places.
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