{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/web/1-samuel/24","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-06-09T23:35:23.962Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WEB","book":"1 Samuel","bookSlug":"1-samuel","chapter":24,"testament":"OLD"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":23,"nextChapter":25,"totalChapters":31,"totalVerses":22},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, |Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.|"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats."},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave."},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"The men of David said to him, |Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'| Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt."},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"He said to his men, |Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed.|"},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"So David checked his men with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, |My lord the king!| When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance."},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"David said to Saul, |Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Behold, David seeks your hurt?'"},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you."},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?"},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.|"},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, |Is this your voice, my son David?| Saul lifted up his voice, and wept."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"He said to David, |You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you."},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"You have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn't kill me."},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand."},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.|"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold."}],"citation":{"inline":"1 Samuel 24 (WEB)","markdown":"[1 Samuel 24](https://primebible.com/web/1-samuel/24)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WEB. https://primebible.com/web/1-samuel/24 (accessed 2026-06-09)."}}