1Samuel:24

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* 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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