1And 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 En-gedi.24.1 following: Heb. after 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4And 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 Saul’s robe privily.24.4 Saul’s…: Heb. the robe which was Saul’s 5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.24.7 stayed: Heb. cut off 8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9¶ And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: 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 LORD’s anointed. 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, 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. 12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.24.15 deliver: Heb. judge
16¶ And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18And 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.24.18 delivered: Heb. shut up 19For 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. 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21Swear 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 father’s house. 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Hindi Pinatay ni David si Saul
1Nang bumalik si Saul mula sa pakikipaglaban sa mga Filisteo, sinabi sa kanya na naroon si David sa disyerto ng En Gedi. 2Kaya pumili si Saul ng 3,000 tao galing sa buong Israel at lumakad sila para hanapin si David, malapit sa mabatong lugar na tinitirhan ng maiilap na kambing.
3Nakarating si Saul sa kulungan ng mga tupa sa tabi ng daan, kung saan may kweba roon. Pumasok siya sa loob ng kweba at doon dumumi. Doon pala sa kaloob-loobang bahagi ng kweba nagtatago si David at ang mga tauhan niya. 4Sinabi ng mga tauhan ni David, “Dumating na ang panahong sinabi ng Panginoon na ibibigay niya sa iyo ang iyong kaaway at ikaw na ang bahala kung ano ang gusto mong gawin sa kanya.” Dahan-dahang lumapit si David kay Saul at pumutol ng kapirasong tela sa laylayan ng damit nito nang hindi nito namamalayan. 5Pero nakonsensya si David dahil pinutol niya ang laylayan ng damit ni Saul. 6Sinabi niya sa kanyang mga tauhan, “Huwag sanang ipahintulot ng Panginoon na gawan ko ng masama ang aking hari, ang hinirang ng Panginoon na maging hari.” 7Sa sinabing ito ni David, sinaway niya ang kanyang mga tauhan, at hindi niya sila pinayagang salakayin si Saul. Umalis si Saul at nagpatuloy sa paglalakbay.
8Maya-maya, lumabas ng kweba si David at tinawag si Saul, “Mahal na Hari!” Nang lumingon si Saul, nagpatirapa si David sa kanyang harapan bilang paggalang. 9At sinabi niya kay Saul, “Bakit kayo naniniwala sa mga taong nagsasabi na nagbabalak akong patayin kayo? 10Sa araw na ito, nakita nʼyo kung paano kayo ibinigay ng Panginoon sa aking mga kamay doon sa loob ng kweba. Sinabi sa akin ng iba kong mga tauhan na patayin kayo pero hindi ko ginawa. Sinabi ko sa kanila na hindi ko sasaktan ang aking hari24:10 hari: sa Hebreo, amo. dahil pinili siya ng Panginoon na maging hari. 11Ama ko, tingnan ninyo ang kapirasong tela na hawak ko, galing ito sa laylayan ng damit ninyo. Pinutol ko ito pero hindi ko kayo pinatay. Nagpapatunay ito na wala akong masamang plano o pagrerebelde laban sa inyo. Wala akong kasalanan sa inyo, pero tinutugis nʼyo ako para patayin. 12Ang Panginoon sana ang humatol sa ating dalawa, at parusahan kayo ng Panginoon sa mga ginagawa nʼyo sa akin. Pero wala akong gagawing masama sa inyo, 13sabi nga ng kasabihan, ‘Ang masamang tao lang ang gumagawa ng masama.’ Kaya hindi ko kayo gagawan ng masama. 14Sino po ba ako at hinahabol ako ng hari ng Israel? Katulad lang ako ng isang patay na aso o isang pulgas. 15Ang Panginoon sana ang humatol at magdesisyon kung sino po ang may kasalanan sa ating dalawa. Sanaʼy mapansin niya at matugunan ang usaping ito at mailigtas ako mula sa iyong mga kamay.”
16Matapos magsalita ni David, sinabi ni Saul, “Ikaw ba iyan, David, anak ko?” At humagulgol si Saul. 17Sinabi pa niya, “Mas matuwid ka kaysa sa akin. Masama ang trato ko sa iyo pero mabuti ang iginanti mo sa akin. 18Sa araw na ito, ipinakita mo ang iyong kabutihan. Ibinigay ako ng Panginoon sa mga kamay mo para patayin pero hindi mo ito ginawa. 19Ang ibaʼy hindi pinababayaang makatakas ang kanilang kaaway kapag nakita na nila ito. Gantimpalaan ka sana ng Panginoon sa kabutihang ipinakita mo sa akin ngayon. 20Tinatanggap ko na ngayon, ikaw na ang magiging hari at ang kaharian ng Israel ay magiging matatag sa ilalim ng iyong pamumuno. 21Ngayon, mangako ka sa akin sa pangalan ng Panginoon na hindi mo papatayin ang aking angkan para hindi mawala ang pangalan ng pamilya ko.” 22Kaya sumumpa si David kay Saul. Pagkatapos, umuwi si Saul, pero si David at ang mga tauhan niyaʼy bumalik sa pinagtataguan nila.
