撒上24:1 扫罗追赶非利士人回来的时候，有人告诉他说：“看哪，大卫在隐．基底的旷野。”（本节在《马索拉抄本》为24:2）
撒上24:1 Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
撒上24:2 扫罗就从以色列人中选出三千精兵，带领他们到野羊盘石去搜索大卫和跟随他的人。
撒上24:2 Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
撒上24:3 到了路旁的羊圈，那里有一个洞，扫罗进去大解；那时，大卫和跟随他的人正坐在洞里的深处。
撒上24:3 And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
撒上24:4 跟随大卫的人对他说：“耶和华曾应许你说：‘我要把你的仇敌交在你的手里，你可以随意待他。’看哪！今天就是时候了。”于是大卫起来，悄悄地割下扫罗外袍的衣边。
撒上24:4 And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
撒上24:5 事后，大卫为了割下扫罗的衣边，心中自责，
撒上24:5 And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
撒上24:6 就对跟随他的人说：“我在耶和华面前绝对不能这样对待我主耶和华的受膏者，我绝对不能动手攻击他，因为他是耶和华的受膏者。”
撒上24:6 And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
撒上24:7 大卫用这些话阻止了跟随他的人，不让他们起来攻击扫罗。扫罗起来，出了山洞，继续走他的路去了。
撒上24:7 So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
撒上24:8 随后，大卫也起来，离开了山洞，在扫罗背后呼叫，说：“我主！我王！”扫罗回头向后看的时候，大卫就脸伏于地，向他叩拜。
撒上24:8 And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
撒上24:9 大卫对扫罗说：“你为什么听信人的话，说：‘大卫想要害你’呢？
撒上24:9 And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
撒上24:10 现在你亲眼看到，今天耶和华在山洞里，把你交在我手里。有人叫我杀你，我却爱惜你。我说：‘我不敢下手伤害我主，因为他是耶和华的受膏者。’
撒上24:10 Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
撒上24:11 我父啊，请看，你外袍的衣边在我手中。我割下了你外袍的衣边，却没有杀你。你从此可以知道，也可以看出我手中没有邪恶，也没有过犯。我虽然没有得罪你，你却要猎取我的性命。
撒上24:11 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
撒上24:12 愿耶和华在你我之间判断是非；愿耶和华在你身上为我伸冤。我的手却不敢伤害你。
撒上24:12 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
撒上24:13 正如古时的格言：‘恶事出于恶人。’所以，我的手不敢伤害你。
撒上24:13 There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
撒上24:14 以色列的王出去追捕谁呢？你现在追赶谁呢？不过是追赶一条死狗，一只跳蚤吧了！
撒上24:14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
撒上24:15 愿耶和华在你我中间施行审判，断定是非；愿他鉴察，为我的案件伸冤，救我脱离你的手。”
撒上24:15 So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
撒上24:16 大卫对扫罗说完了这些话，扫罗就说：“我儿大卫啊，这是你的声音吗？”于是扫罗放声大哭，
撒上24:16 Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
撒上24:17 对大卫说：“你比我公义，因为你以良善待我，我却以恶待你。
撒上24:17 And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
撒上24:18 今天你所作的说明了你以良善待我，因为耶和华把我交在你手里，你却没有杀我。
撒上24:18 And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
撒上24:19 如果人遇见仇敌，怎会让他平平安安离去呢？愿耶和华因你今天对我所作的报答你。
撒上24:19 If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
撒上24:20 现在我知道你必要作王，以色列的王国必在你手里坚立起来。
撒上24:20 And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
撒上24:21 现在你要指着耶和华向我起誓，不剪除我的后裔，也不从我父家消灭我的名。”
撒上24:21 So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
撒上24:22 于是大卫向扫罗起誓，扫罗就回自己的家去了，大卫和跟随他的人也上山寨去了。
撒上24:22 And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.