1Samuel:24

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* 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 #Eyn . * Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel Yisra #el #, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats ya #el #. * And he came to the sheepcotes g @derah # by the way , where was a cave m @#arah #; and Saul went in to cover his feet : and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave m @#arah #. * 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 Sauls robe privily . * And it came to pass afterward , that Davids heart smote him , because he had cut off Sauls skirt . * And he said unto his men , The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master , the LORDS anointed , to stretch forth mine hand against him , seeing he is the anointed of the LORD . * So David stayed his servants with these words , and suffered them not to rise against Saul Sha #uwl #. But Saul rose up out of the cave m @#arah #, and went on his way . * David also arose afterward , and went out of the cave m @#arah #, and cried after Saul Sha #uwl #, saying , My lord the king . And when Saul looked behind him , David stooped with his face to the earth , and bowed himself . * And David said to Saul Sha #uwl #, Wherefore hearest thou mens words , saying , Behold , David seeketh thy hurt ? * Behold , this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave m @#arah #: 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 LORDS anointed . * 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 m @#iyl #, 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 . * The LORD judge between me and thee , and the LORD avenge me of thee : but mine hand shall not be upon thee . * As saith the proverb of the ancients , Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked : but mine hand shall not be upon thee . * After whom is the king of Israel come out ? after whom dost thou pursue ? after a dead dog , after a flea par #osh #. * The LORD therefore be judge , and judge between me and thee , and see , and plead my cause , and deliver me out of thine hand . * And it came to pass , when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul Sha #uwl #, that 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 righteous than I : for thou hast rewarded me good , whereas I have rewarded thee evil . * And thou hast shewed 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 . * 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 . * And now , behold , I know well that thou shalt surely be king , and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand . * 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 fathers house . * And David sware unto Saul Sha #uwl #. And Saul went home ; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold .

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