1 Samuel 24

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 From there David went up and installed himself in the strongholds of En-Gedi.	1 David then went up from there and stayed in the refuges behind Engedi.
2 Once Saul was back from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 'David is now in the desert of En-Gedi.'	2 And when Saul returned from the pursuit of the Philistines, he was told that David was in the desert near Engedi.
3 Saul thereupon took three thousand men selected from al Israel and went in search of David and hismen east of the Rocks of the Mountain Goats.	3 So Saul took three thousand picked men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags.
4 He came to the sheepfolds along the route, where there was a cave, and went in to cover his feet.Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave;	4 When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to ease nature. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.
5 David's men said to him, 'Today is the day of which Yahweh said to you, "I shall deliver your enemyinto your power; do what you like with him." ' David got up and, unobserved, cut off the border of Saul's cloak.	5 David's servants said to him, "This is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'I will deliver your enemy into your grasp; do with him as you see fit.'" So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul's mantle.
6 Afterwards David reproached himself for having cut off the border of Saul's cloak.	6 Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul's mantle.
7 He said to his men, 'Yahweh preserve me from doing such a thing to my lord as to raise my handagainst him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.'	7 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, as to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord's anointed."
8 By these words David restrained his men and would not let them attack Saul.	8 With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way.
9 Saul then left the cave and went on his way. After this, David too left the cave and cal ed after Saul,'My lord king!' Saul looked behind him and David, bowing to the ground, prostrated himself.	9 David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked back, David bowed to the ground in homage
10 David then said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to people who say, "David intends your ruin"?	10 and asked Saul: "Why do you listen to those who say, 'David is trying to harm you'?
11 This very day you have seen for yourself how Yahweh put you in my power in the cave and how,refusing to kil you, I spared you saying, "I wil not raise my hand against my lord, since he is Yahweh'sanointed."	11 You see for yourself today that the LORD just now delivered you into my grasp in the cave. I had some thought of killing you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, 'I will not raise a hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed and a father to me.'
12 Look, father, look at the border of your cloak in my hand. Since, although I cut the border off yourcloak, I did not kil you, surely you realise that I intend neither mischief nor crime. I have not wronged you, andyet you hunt me down to take my life.	12 Look here at this end of your mantle which I hold. Since I cut off an end of your mantle and did not kill you, see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life.
13 May Yahweh be judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but I shall neverlay a hand on you!	13 The LORD will judge between me and you, and the LORD will exact justice from you in my case. I shall not touch you.
14 (As the old proverb says: Wickedness comes out of wicked people, but I shal never lay a hand onyou!)	14 The old proverb says, 'From the wicked comes forth wickedness.' So I will take no action against you.
15 On whose trail is the king of Israel campaigning? Whom are you pursuing? On the trail of a deaddog, of a flea!	15 Against whom are you on campaign, O king of Israel? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, or a single flea!
16 May Yahweh be the judge and decide between me and you; may he examine and defend my causeand give judgement for me by rescuing me from your clutches!'	16 The LORD will be the judge; he will decide between me and you. May he see this, and take my part, and grant me justice beyond your reach!"
17 When David had finished saying this to Saul, Saul said, 'Is that your voice, my son David?' And Saulbegan to weep aloud.	17 When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, "Is that your voice, my son David?" And he wept aloud.
18 'You are upright and I am not,' he said to David, 'since you have behaved wel to me, whereas I havebehaved badly to you.	18 Saul then said to David: "You are in the right rather than I; you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm.
19 And today you have shown how well you have behaved to me, since Yahweh had put me in yourpower but you did not kil me.	19 Great is the generosity you showed me today, when the LORD delivered me into your grasp and you did not kill me.
20 When a man comes on his enemy, does he let him go unmolested? May Yahweh reward you for thegood you have done me today!	20 For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day.
21 Now I know that you wil indeed reign and that the sovereignty in Israel wil pass into your hands.	21 And now, since I know that you shall surely be king and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession,
22 Now swear to me by Yahweh that you wil not suppress my descendants once I am gone, or blot myname out of my family.'	22 swear to me by the LORD that you will not destroy my descendants and that you will not blot out my name and family."
23 This David swore to Saul, and Saul went home while David and his men went back to the stronghold.	23 David gave Saul his oath and Saul returned home, while David and his men went up to the refuge.