1 When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi." 2 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. 3 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 staying in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 David’s men 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. 5 Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6 He said to his men, "Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is Yahweh’s anointed." 7 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. 8 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 showed respect. 9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks to harm you?’ 10 Behold, today your eyes have seen how Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is Yahweh’s anointed.’ 11 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. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it. 12 May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you. 13 As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you. 14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? 15 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."

16 It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you. 18 You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me. 19 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 today. 20 Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house."

22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

1 A, no te hokinga o Haora i te whai i nga Pirihitini, na ka korerotia te korero ki a ia, Nana, kei te koraha o Enekeri a Rawiri.

2 Katahi ka takiritia e Haora etahi tangata, e toru mano, he hunga whiriwhiri roto i a Iharaira katoa, a haere ana ki te rapu i a Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata ki nga kamaka o nga koati mohoao.

3 A ka tae ki nga taiepa hipi i te ara, he ana hoki kei reira, a ka haere atu a Haora ki te uhi i ona waewae, heoi i nga wahi i roto rawa o te ana a Rawiri ratou ko ana tangata e noho ana.

4 Na ka mea nga tangata a Rawiri ki a ia, Na, ko te ra tenei i mea ai a Ihowa ki a koe, Nana, ka hoatu e ahau tou hoariri ki tou ringa, a ka meatia e koe ki a ia ta tou hinengaro e pai ai. Katahi ka whakatika a Rawiri, a tapahia pukutia ana e ia te pito o te koroka o Haora.

5 A muri iho ka whakawiri te ngakau o Rawiri i roto i a ia, mona i tapahi i te pito o te koroka o Haora.

6 Na ka mea ia ki ana tangata, Ma Ihowa ahau e arai kei meatia tenei mea ki toku ariki, ki ta Ihowa i whakawahi ai, kia totoro atu toku ringa ki a ia, ko ta Ihowa hoki ia i whakawahi ai.

7 Ko nga kupu enei a Rawiri i haukotia ai e ia ana tangata, a kihai i tukua kia whakatika ki a Haora. Na whakatika ana a Haora i roto i te ana, a haere ana i tona ara.

8 Ka whakatika a Rawiri i muri, a puta ana ano i te ana, ka karanga i muri i a Haora, ka mea, E toku ariki, e te kingi. A, i te tirohanga o Haora ki muri i a ia, ka tuohu te mata o Rawiri, a piko ana ki te whenua.

9 Na ka mea a Rawiri ki a Haora, He aha koe i whakarongo ai ki nga kupu a te tangata ina mea, Kei te rapu a Rawiri i te he mou?

10 Na kua kite nei ou kanohi i tenei ra i ta Ihowa homaitanga i a koe inaianei ki toku ringa i roto i te ana; a i ki mai etahi kia patua koe; otiia i tohu toku kanohi i a koe; i mea hoki ahau, E kore toku ringa e totoro ki toku ariki; ko ta Ihowa i a i whakawahi ai.

11 Titiro mai ano hoki, e toku papa, ae ra, tirohia mai te pito o tou koroka i toku ringa nei; ta te mea i ahau nei i tapahi ai i te pito o tou koroka, a kihai i patu i a koe, na ka mohio koe, ka kite, kahore he kino, he tutu ranei i toku ringa; ka hore ano oku hara ki a koe; heoi e whaia nei ahau e koe kia whakamatea.

12 Ma Ihowa e whakarite ta taua whakawa, me Ihowa ano e rapu he utu moku i a koe; ko toku ringa ia e kore e pa ki a koe.

13 E ki nei hoki te whakatauki onamata, no te hunga kino mai te kino; na e kore toku ringa e pa ki a koe.

14 He whai i a wai i puta mai ai te kingi o Iharaira? ko wai tenei te arumia nei e koe? he kuri mate, he puruhi.

15 Ma Ihowa e whakarongo, e whakarite ta taua whakawa, mana e titiro mai, e tohe taku tohe, e whakaora hoki ahau i roto i tou ringa.

16 A, i te mutunga o ta Rawiri korero i enei kupu ki a Haora, ka mea a Haora, Ko tou reo tena, e taku tama, e Rawiri? Na ka puaki nui te reo o Haora ka tangi.

17 Na ka mea ia ki a Rawiri, Tika rawa koe i ahau; he pai hoki tau utu ki ahau, ko taku utu ia ki a koe he kino.

18 Kua whakakitea mai nei hoki e koe inaianei te pai o tau mahi ki ahau: i ta Ihowa tukunga putanga hoki i ahau ki tou ringa, na kihai koe i patu i ahau.

19 Ki te tupono hoki te tangata ki tona hoariri, tera ranei ia e tukua paitia atu e ia kia haere? Na ma Ihowa e homai te pai ki a koe hei utu mo tau mahi ki ahau i tenei ra.

20 Na e mohio ana tenei ahau ko koe pu ano hei kingi, a ka pumau ki tou ringa te kingitanga o Iharaira.

21 Na oatitia mai a Ihowa ki ahau e kore e hautopea atu e koe oku uri i muri i ahau, e kore ano hoki e huna e koe toku ingoa i roto i te whare o toku papa.

22 Na oati ana a Rawiri ki a Haora, a haere ana a Haora ki tona whare; ko Rawiri ia ratou ko ana tangata i haere ki te pourewa.