After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.(A) David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? 10 You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave.(B) Someone advised me to kill you,(C) but I[a][b] took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed. 11 Look, my father!(D) Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize[c] that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.(E)

12 “May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.(F) 13 As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’(G) My hand will never be against you. 14 Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?(H) 15 May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver[d] me from you.”(I)

16 When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, “Is that your voice, David my son?” (J) Then Saul wept aloud 17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.(K) 18 You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the Lord handed me over to you, you didn’t kill me.(L) 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed?[e](M) May the Lord repay you with good for what you’ve done for me today.

20 “Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established[f] in your hand.(N) 21 Therefore swear to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”(O) 22 So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. 24:10 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads she or it
  2. 24:10 Or my eye
  3. 24:11 Lit Know and see
  4. 24:15 Lit render a verdict for
  5. 24:19 Lit go on a good way
  6. 24:20 Or will flourish

Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.(A) He said to Saul, “Why do you listen(B) when men say, ‘David is bent on harming(C) you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared(D) you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut(E) off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty(F) of wrongdoing(G) or rebellion. I have not wronged(H) you, but you are hunting(I) me down to take my life.(J) 12 May the Lord judge(K) between you and me. And may the Lord avenge(L) the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,(M)’ so my hand will not touch you.

14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog?(N) A flea?(O) 15 May the Lord be our judge(P) and decide(Q) between us. May he consider my cause and uphold(R) it; may he vindicate(S) me by delivering(T) me from your hand.”

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice,(U) David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,”(V) he said. “You have treated me well,(W) but I have treated you badly.(X) 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered(Y) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward(Z) you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king(AA) and that the kingdom(AB) of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear(AC) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.(AD)

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.(AE)

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