1It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
1大衛在隱．基底不傷掃羅掃羅追趕非利士人回來的時候，有人告訴他說：“看哪，大衛在隱．基底的曠野。”（本節在《馬索拉抄本》為24:2）
2Then 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.
2掃羅就從以色列人中選出三千精兵，帶領他們到野羊磐石去搜索大衛和跟隨他的人。
3He 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.
3到了路旁的羊圈，那裡有一個洞，掃羅進去大解；那時，大衛和跟隨他的人正坐在洞裡的深處。
4The 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.
4跟隨大衛的人對他說：“耶和華曾應許你說：‘我要把你的仇敵交在你的手裡，你可以隨意待他。’看哪！今天就是時候了。”於是大衛起來，悄悄地割下掃羅外袍的衣邊。
5It happened afterward, that David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
5事後，大衛為了割下掃羅的衣邊，心中自責，
6He 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.”
6就對跟隨他的人說：“我在耶和華面前絕對不能這樣對待我主耶和華的受膏者，我絕對不能動手攻擊他，因為他是耶和華的受膏者。”
7So 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.
7大衛用這些話阻止了跟隨他的人，不讓他們起來攻擊掃羅。掃羅起來，出了山洞，繼續走他的路去了。
8David 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 showed respect.
8大衛向掃羅表白隨後，大衛也起來，離開了山洞，在掃羅背後呼叫，說：“我主！我王！”掃羅回頭向後看的時候，大衛就臉伏於地，向他叩拜。
9David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks your hurt?’
9大衛對掃羅說：“你為甚麼聽信人的話，說：‘大衛想要害你’呢？
10Behold, 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.
10現在你親眼看到，今天耶和華在山洞裡，把你交在我手裡。有人叫我殺你，我卻愛惜你。我說：‘我不敢下手傷害我主，因為他是耶和華的受膏者。’
11Moreover, 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.
11我父啊，請看，你外袍的衣邊在我手中。我割下了你外袍的衣邊，卻沒有殺你。你從此可以知道，也可以看出我手中沒有邪惡，也沒有過犯。我雖然沒有得罪你，你卻要獵取我的性命。
12May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
12願耶和華在你我之間判斷是非；願耶和華在你身上為我伸冤。我的手卻不敢傷害你。
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;’ but my hand shall not be on you.
13正如古時的格言：‘惡事出於惡人。’所以，我的手不敢傷害你。
14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
14以色列的王出去追捕誰呢？你現在追趕誰呢？不過是追趕一條死狗，一隻跳蚤吧了！
15May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
15願耶和華在你我中間施行審判，斷定是非；願他鑒察，為我的案件伸冤，救我脫離你的手。”
16It 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.
16掃羅認錯大衛對掃羅說完了這些話，掃羅就說：“我兒大衛啊，這是你的聲音嗎？”於是掃羅放聲大哭，
17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
17對大衛說：“你比我公義，因為你以良善待我，我卻以惡待你。
18You 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.
18今天你所作的說明了你以良善待我，因為耶和華把我交在你手裡，你卻沒有殺我。
19For 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.
19如果人遇見仇敵，怎會讓他平平安安離去呢？願耶和華因你今天對我所作的報答你。
20Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
20現在我知道你必要作王，以色列的王國必在你手裡堅立起來。
21Swear 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.”
21現在你要指著耶和華向我起誓，不剪除我的後裔，也不從我父家消滅我的名。”
22David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
22於是大衛向掃羅起誓，掃羅就回自己的家去了，大衛和跟隨他的人也上山寨去了。