33,354 verses contain “the” (in the KJV: 32,434, in the BSB: 26,201) — showing 7,301–7,400
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And
Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into
the field. And
they went out both of
them into
the field.
“Come,” he replied, “let us go out to the field.” So the two of them went out into the field,
And
Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to
morrow any time, or
the third day, and, behold, if
there be good toward David, and I
then send not unto
thee, and
shew it
thee;
and
Jonathan said, “By
the LORD,
the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time
tomorrow or
the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
The LORD do so and much more to
Jonathan: but if it please my father to do
thee evil,
then I will
shew it
thee, and send
thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and
the LORD be with
thee, as he hath been with my father.
But if my father intends to bring evil on you,
then may
the LORD
punish me, and ever so severely, if I do not tell you and send you on your way in safety. May
the LORD be with you, just as He has been with my father.
And thou shalt not only while yet I live
shew me
the kindness of
the LORD, that I die not:
And as long as I live, treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion, that I may not die,
But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
So
Jonathan made a covenant with
the house of David, saying, Let
the LORD even require it at
the hand of David’s enemies.
So
Jonathan made a covenant with
the house of David, saying, “May
the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”
Then Jonathan said to David, To
morrow is
the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
Then Jonathan said to David, “
Tomorrow is
the New Moon, and you will be missed if your seat is empty.
And when thou hast stayed three days,
then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to
the place where thou
didst hide
thyself when
the business was in hand, and shalt remain by
the stone Ezel.
When you have stayed three days,
hurry down to
the place you
hid on
the day this trouble began, and remain beside
the stone Ezel.
And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.
I will shoot three arrows to
the side of it, as if I were aiming at a
target.
And, behold, I will send a
lad, saying, Go, find out
the arrows. If I expressly say unto
the lad, Behold,
the arrows are on this side of
thee, take
them;
then come thou: for
there is peace to
thee, and no
hurt; as
the LORD liveth.
Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,’ then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.
But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
But if I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away.
And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
And as for
the matter you and I have discussed,
the LORD is a witness between you and me
forever.”
So David
hid himself in
the field: and when
the new moon was come,
the king sat him down to eat meat.
So David
hid in
the field, and when
the New Moon had come,
the king sat down to eat.
And
the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by
the wall: and
Jonathan arose, and
Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty.
He sat in his usual place by
the wall, opposite
Jonathan and beside
Abner, but David’s place was empty.
And it came to pass on
the morrow, which was
the second day of
the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto
Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not
the son of
Jesse to meat, neither
yesterday, nor to day?
But on
the day after
the New Moon,
the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son
Jonathan, “Why hasn’t
the son of
Jesse come to
the meal either
yesterday or
today?”
And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
saying, ‘Please let me go, because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why he did not come to the king’s table.”
Then Saul’s anger was
kindled against
Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of
the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen
the son of
Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto
the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
Then Saul’s anger burned against
Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a
perverse and
rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen
the son of
Jesse to your own shame and to
the disgrace of
the mother who bore you?
For as long as
the son of
Jesse liveth upon
the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and
fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
For as long as
the son of
Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your
kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!”
So
Jonathan arose from
the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat
the second day of
the month: for he was
grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
Jonathan got up from
the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of
the month, for he was
grieved by his father’s shameful treatment of David.
And it came to pass in
the morning, that
Jonathan went out into
the field at
the time appointed with David, and a little
lad with him.
In
the morning
Jonathan went out to
the field for
the appointment with David, and a small boy was with him.
And he said unto his
lad, Run, find out now
the arrows which I shoot. And as
the lad ran, he shot an
arrow beyond him.
He said to
the boy, “Run and find
the arrows I shoot.” And as
the boy ran,
Jonathan shot an
arrow beyond him.
But
the lad knew not any thing: only
Jonathan and David knew
the matter.
But
the boy did not know anything; only
Jonathan and David knew
the arrangement.
And
Jonathan gave his artillery unto his
lad, and said unto him, Go, carry
them to
the city.
Then Jonathan gave his
equipment to
the boy and said, “Go, take it back to
the city.”
And as soon as
the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward
the south, and fell on his face to
the ground, and bowed himself three times: and
they kissed one another, and
wept one with another, until David exceeded.
When
the young man had gone, David got up from
the south side of
the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times.
Then he and
Jonathan kissed each other and
wept together—though David
wept more.
And
Jonathan said to David, Go in peace,
forasmuch as we have
sworn both of us in
the name of
the LORD, saying,
The LORD be between me and
thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and
Jonathan went into
the city.
And
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for
the two of us have
sworn in
the name of
the LORD, saying, ‘May
the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine
forever.’”
Then David got up and departed, and
Jonathan went back into
the city.
Then came David to
Nob to
Ahimelech the priest: and
Ahimelech was afraid at
the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with
thee?
Then David came to
Nob, to
Ahimelech the priest. And when
Ahimelech met David, he
trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”
And David said unto
Ahimelech the priest,
The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of
the business
whereabout I send
thee, and what I have commanded
thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.
Now
therefore what is under thine hand? give me five
loaves of bread in mine hand, or what
there is present.
Now
then, what do you have on hand? Give me five
loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”
And
the priest answered David, and said,
There is no common bread under mine hand, but
there is
hallowed bread; if
the young men have kept
themselves at least from women.
“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.”
And David answered
the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about
these three days, since I came out, and
the vessels of
the young men are holy, and
the bread is in a manner common,
yea, though it were
sanctified this day in
the vessel.
David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And
the equipment of
the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all
the more at this time.”
So
the priest gave him
hallowed bread: for
there was no bread
there but
the shewbread, that was taken from before
the LORD, to put hot bread in
the day when it was taken away.
So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.
Now a certain man of
the servants of Saul was
there that day,
detained before
the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an
Edomite,
the chiefest of
the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
Now one of Saul’s servants was
there that day,
detained before
the LORD. And his name was Doeg
the Edomite,
the chief
shepherd for Saul.
And David said unto
Ahimelech, And is
there not here under thine hand
spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because
the king’s business required
haste.
Then David asked
Ahimelech, “Is
there not a
spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because
the king’s business was
urgent.”
And
the priest said,
The sword of
Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in
the valley of Elah, behold, it is here
wrapped in a cloth behind
the ephod: if thou
wilt take that, take it: for
there is no other save that here. And David said,
There is none like that; give it me.
The priest replied, “
The sword of
Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in
the Valley of Elah, is here; it is
wrapped in a cloth behind
the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For
there is no other but this one.” And David said, “
There is none like it; give it to me.”
And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish
the king of
Gath.
That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of
Gath.
And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
And David laid up
these words in his heart, and was
sore afraid of Achish
the king of
Gath.
Now David took
these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish
the king of
Gath.
And he changed his behaviour before
them, and
feigned himself
mad in
their hands, and
scrabbled on
the doors of
the gate, and let his
spittle fall down upon his
beard.
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see
the man is
mad: wherefore
then have ye brought him to me?
Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that
the man is
insane! Why have you brought him to me?
Have I need of
mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play
the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
Am I in need of
madmen, that you have brought this man to
rave in my presence? Must this man come into my house?”
David
therefore departed
thence, and escaped to
the cave
Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father’s house heard it,
they went down thither to him.
So David left
Gath and took refuge in
the cave of
Adullam. When his brothers and
the rest of his father’s household heard about it,
they went down to him
there.
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
And all who were distressed or indebted or discontented
rallied around him, and he became
their leader. About four hundred men were with him.
And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.
From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me.”
And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
So he left
them in
the care of
the king of Moab, and
they stayed with him
the whole time David was in
the stronghold.
And
the prophet
Gad said unto David,
Abide not in
the hold; depart, and get
thee into
the land of Judah.
Then David departed, and came into
the forest of Hareth.
Then the prophet
Gad said to David, “Do not stay in
the stronghold. Depart and go into
the land of Judah.” So David left and went to
the forest of Hereth.
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and
the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in
Ramah, having his
spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
Soon Saul learned that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under
the tamarisk tree on
the hill at Gibeah, with his
spear in hand and all his servants standing around him.
Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will
the son of
Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
Then Saul said to his servants, “
Listen, men of Benjamin! Is
the son of
Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
That all of you have
conspired against me, and
there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with
the son of
Jesse, and
there is none of you that is
sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath
stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Is that why all of you have
conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with
the son of
Jesse. Not one of you has shown
concern for me or revealed to me that my son has
stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is
the case
today.”
Then answered Doeg
the Edomite, which was set over
the servants of Saul, and said, I saw
the son of
Jesse coming to
Nob, to
Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
But Doeg
the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw
the son of
Jesse come to
Ahimelech son of Ahitub at
Nob.
Then the king sent to call
Ahimelech the priest,
the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house,
the priests that were in
Nob: and
they came all of
them to
the king.
Then the king sent messengers to
summon Ahimelech the priest,
the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at
Nob. And all of
them came to
the king.
And Saul said unto him, Why have ye
conspired against me, thou and
the son of
Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
And Saul asked him, “Why have you and
the son of
Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing
today.”
Then Ahimelech answered
the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is
the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy
bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
Ahimelech answered
the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David,
the king’s son-in-law,
the captain of your
bodyguard who is honored in your house?
Did I
then begin to
enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not
the king
impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all
the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
Was that day
the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not
the king
accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole
affair—not in part or in whole.”
And
the king said, Thou shalt surely die,
Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.
But
the king replied, “You will surely die,
Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”
And
the king said unto
the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and
slay the priests of
the LORD; because
their hand also is with David, and because
they knew when he fled, and did not
shew it to me. But
the servants of
the king would not put forth
their hand to fall upon
the priests of
the LORD.
Then the king ordered
the guards at his side, “Turn and kill
the priests of
the LORD, because
they too sided with David. For
they knew he was
fleeing, but
they did not tell me.” But
the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike
the priests of
the LORD.
And
the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon
the priests. And Doeg
the Edomite turned, and he fell upon
the priests, and
slew on that day
fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen
ephod.
So
the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down
the priests!” And Doeg
the Edomite turned and struck down
the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who
wore the linen
ephod.
And
Nob,
the city of
the priests,
smote he with
the edge of
the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and
asses, and sheep, with
the edge of
the sword.
He also put to
the sword
Nob,
the city of
the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen,
donkeys, and sheep.
And one of
the sons of
Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named
Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.
But one of
the sons of
Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was
Abiathar, and he fled to David.
And
Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain
the LORD’S priests.
And
Abiathar told David that Saul had killed
the priests of
the LORD.
And David said unto
Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg
the Edomite was
there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned
the death of all
the persons of thy father’s house.
Then David said to
Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg
the Edomite was
there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for
the lives of
everyone in your father’s house.
Then they told David, saying, Behold,
the Philistines fight against Keilah, and
they rob the threshingfloors.
Now it was reported to David, “Look,
the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and
looting the threshing floors.”
Therefore David enquired of
the LORD, saying, Shall I go and
smite these Philistines? And
the LORD said unto David, Go, and
smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
And David’s men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”
Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with
the Philistines, and brought away
their cattle, and
smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved
the inhabitants of Keilah.
Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against
the Philistines, and carried off
their livestock, striking
them with a mighty blow. So David saved
the people of Keilah.
And it came to pass, when
Abiathar the son of
Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an
ephod in his hand.
And Saul called all
the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to
besiege David and his men.
Then Saul summoned all his troops to go to war at Keilah and
besiege David and his men.
And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to
Abiathar the priest, Bring
hither the ephod.
When David learned that Saul was
plotting evil against him, he said to
Abiathar the priest, “Bring
the ephod.”
Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.
And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account.
Will
the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I
beseech thee, tell thy servant. And
the LORD said, He will come down.
Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.
Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.
So David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” “They will,” said the LORD.
Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went
whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he
forbare to go forth.
Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah, moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he declined to go forth.
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
And David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God would not deliver David into his hand.
And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
While David was in Horesh in the Wilderness of Ziph, he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
And
Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into
the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
And Saul’s son
Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”
And
they two made a covenant before
the LORD: and David abode in
the wood, and
Jonathan went to his house.
So
the two of
them made a covenant before
the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while
Jonathan went home.
Then came up
the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying,
Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in
the wood, in
the hill of Hachilah, which is on
the south of Jeshimon?
Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.
Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of
the LORD; for ye have
compassion on me.
“May you be blessed by
the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had
compassion on me.
Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his
haunt is, and who hath seen him
there: for it is told me that he dealeth very
subtilly.
Please go and prepare further.
Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him
there, for I am told that he is extremely
cunning.
See
therefore, and take knowledge of all
the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with
the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in
the land, that I will search him out throughout all
the thousands of Judah.
Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”
And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.
So
they set out and went to Ziph
ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in
the Wilderness of Maon in
the Arabah south of Jeshimon,
Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.
And Saul went on this side of
the mountain, and David and his men on that side of
the mountain: and David made
haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take
them.
Saul was proceeding along one side of
the mountain, and David and his men along
the other side. Even though David was
hurrying to get away, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture
them.
But
there came a
messenger unto Saul, saying,
Haste thee, and come; for
the Philistines have invaded
the land.
Then a
messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly, for
the Philistines have
raided the land!”
Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.
So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why that place is called Sela-hammahlekoth.
And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at En-gedi.
And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.
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 En-gedi.
After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
Then 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.
So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
And 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.
Soon Saul came to
the sheepfolds along
the road, where
there was a cave, and he went in to
relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in
the recesses of
the cave.
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 Saul’s
robe privily.
So David’s men said to him, “This is
the day about which
the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’”
Then David
crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s
robe.
And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart
smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s
skirt.
Afterward, David’s conscience was
stricken because he had cut off
the corner of Saul’s
robe.
And 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.
So he said to his men, “
The LORD
forbid that I should do such a thing to my master,
the LORD’s
anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is
the LORD’s
anointed.”
So 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.
With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
David 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.
After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence