וַיְהִ֗י And it came to pass, hāyâ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ when ʾăšer שָׁ֣ב was returned šûb שָׁא֔וּל Saul šāʾûl מֵאַֽחֲרֵ֖י from following ʾaḥar פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים the Philistines, pĕlištî וַיַּגִּ֤דוּ that it was told nāgad לוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר him, saying, ʾāmar הִנֵּ֣ה Behold, hinnē דָוִ֔ד David dāwid בְּמִדְבַּ֖ר in the wilderness midbār עֵ֥ין גֶּֽדִי׃ of En-gedi. ʿên gedî

וַיִּקַּ֣ח took lāqaḥ שָׁא֗וּל Then Saul šāʾûl שְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת three šālôš אֲלָפִ֛ים thousand ʾelep אִ֥ישׁ men ʾîš בָּח֖וּר chosen bāḥar מִכָּל out of all kōl יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל Israel, yiśrāʾēl וַיֵּ֗לֶךְ and went hālak לְבַקֵּ֤שׁ to seek bāqaš אֶת ʾēt דָּוִד֙ David dāwid וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו and his men ʾîš עַל ʿal פְּנֵ֖י upon pānîm צוּרֵ֥י the rocks ṣûr הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃ of the wild goats. yāʿēl

וַ֠יָּבֹא And he came bôʾ אֶל to ʾēl גִּדְר֨וֹת the sheepcotes gĕdērâ הַצֹּ֤אן ṣōn עַל by ʿal הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ the way, derek וְשָׁ֣ם where šām מְעָרָ֔ה a cave; mĕʿārâ וַיָּבֹ֥א went in bôʾ שָׁא֖וּל and Saul šāʾûl לְהָסֵ֣ךְ to cover sākak אֶת ʾēt רַגְלָ֑יו his feet: regel וְדָוִד֙ and David dāwid וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו and his men ʾîš בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥י in the sides yĕrēkâ הַמְּעָרָ֖ה of the cave. mĕʿārâ יֹֽשְׁבִֽים׃ remained yāšab

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֩ said ʾāmar אַנְשֵׁ֨י And the men ʾîš דָוִ֜ד of David dāwid אֵלָ֗יו unto ʾēl הִנֵּ֨ה him, Behold hinnē הַיּ֜וֹם the day yôm אֲֽשֶׁר of which ʾăšer אָמַ֧ר said ʾāmar יְהוָ֣ה the Lord yĕhōwâ אֵלֶ֗יךָ unto ʾēl הִנֵּ֨ה thee, Behold, hinnē אָֽנֹכִ֜י I ʾānōkî נֹתֵ֤ן will deliver nātan אֶת ʾēt אֹֽיִבְיךָ֙ thine enemy ʾōyēb בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ into thine hand, yād וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ that thou mayest do ʿāśâ לּ֔וֹ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר to him as ʾăšer יִטַ֣ב it shall seem good yāṭab בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ unto thee. ʿayin וַיָּ֣קָם arose, qûm דָּוִ֗ד Then David dāwid וַיִּכְרֹ֛ת and cut off kārat אֶת ʾēt כְּנַֽף the skirt kānāp הַמְּעִ֥יל robe mĕʿîl אֲשֶׁר ʾăšer לְשָׁא֖וּל of Saul's šāʾûl בַּלָּֽט׃ privily. lāṭ

וַֽיְהִי֙ And it came to pass hāyâ אַֽחֲרֵי afterward, ʾaḥar כֵ֔ן kēn וַיַּ֥ךְ smote nākâ לֵב heart lēb דָּוִ֖ד that David's dāwid אֹת֑וֹ ʾēt עַ֚ל him, because ʿal אֲשֶׁ֣ר ʾăšer כָּרַ֔ת he had cut off kārat אֶת ʾēt כָּנָ֖ף skirt. kānāp אֲשֶׁ֥ר ʾăšer לְשָׁאֽוּל׃ Saul's šāʾûl

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר And he said ʾāmar לַֽאֲנָשָׁ֜יו unto his men, ʾĕnôš חָלִ֧ילָה forbid ḥālîlâ לִּ֣י מֵֽיְהוָ֗ה The Lord yĕhōwâ אִם that ʾim אֶֽעֱשֶׂה֩ I should do ʿāśâ אֶת ʾēt הַדָּבָ֨ר thing dābār הַזֶּ֤ה this ze לַֽאדֹנִי֙ unto my master, ʾādôn לִמְשִׁ֣יחַ anointed, māšîaḥ יְהוָ֔ה the Lord's yĕhōwâ לִשְׁלֹ֥חַ to stretch forth šālaḥ יָדִ֖י mine hand yād בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי against him, seeing kî מְשִׁ֥יחַ the anointed māšîaḥ יְהוָ֖ה of the Lord. yĕhōwâ הֽוּא׃ he hûʾ

וַיְשַׁסַּ֨ע stayed šāsaʿ דָּוִ֤ד So David dāwid אֶת ʾēt אֲנָשָׁיו֙ his servants ʾîš בַּדְּבָרִ֔ים with these words, dābār וְלֹ֥א them not lōʾ נְתָנָ֖ם and suffered nātan לָק֣וּם to rise qûm אֶל against ʾēl שָׁא֑וּל Saul. šāʾûl וְשָׁא֛וּל But Saul šāʾûl קָ֥ם rose up qûm מֵֽהַמְּעָרָ֖ה out of the cave, mĕʿārâ וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ and went hālak בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ on way. derek

וַיָּ֨קָם also arose qûm דָּוִ֜ד David dāwid אַֽחֲרֵי afterward, ʾaḥar כֵ֗ן kēn וַיֵּצֵא֙ and went out yāṣāʾ מֵֽן of min הַמְּעָרָ֔ה the cave, mĕʿārâ וַיִּקְרָ֧א and cried qārāʾ אַֽחֲרֵי after ʾaḥar שָׁא֛וּל Saul, šāʾûl לֵאמֹ֖ר saying, ʾāmar אֲדֹנִ֣י My lord ʾādôn הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ the king. melek וַיַּבֵּ֤ט looked nābaṭ שָׁאוּל֙ And when Saul šāʾûl אַֽחֲרָ֔יו behind ʾaḥar וַיִּקֹּ֨ד stooped qādad דָּוִ֥ד him, David dāwid אַפַּ֛יִם with his face ʾap אַ֖רְצָה to the earth, ʾereṣ וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ and bowed himself. šāḥâ

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר said ʾāmar דָּוִד֙ And David dāwid לְשָׁא֔וּל to Saul, šāʾûl לָ֧מָּה Wherefore mâ תִשְׁמַ֛ע hearest šāmaʿ אֶת thou ʾēt דִּבְרֵ֥י words, dābār אָדָ֖ם men's ʾādām לֵאמֹ֑ר saying, ʾāmar הִנֵּ֣ה Behold, hinnē דָוִ֔ד David dāwid מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ seeketh bāqaš רָֽעָתֶֽךָ׃ thy hurt? raʿ

הִנֵּה֩ Behold, hinnē הַיּ֨וֹם day yôm הַזֶּ֜ה this ze רָא֣וּ have seen rāʾâ עֵינֶ֗יךָ thine eyes ʿayin אֵ֣ת ʾēt אֲשֶׁר how ʾăšer נְתָֽנְךָ֩ had delivered nātan יְהוָ֨ה׀ that the Lord yĕhōwâ הַיּ֤וֹם׀ thee to day yôm בְּיָדִי֙ into mine hand yād בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה in the cave: mĕʿārâ וְאָמַ֥ר and bade ʾāmar לַהֲרָֽגְךָ֖ kill hārag וַתָּ֣חָס thee: but spared ḥûs עָלֶ֑יךָ ʿal וָֽאֹמַ֗ר thee; and I said, ʾāmar לֹֽא I will not lōʾ אֶשְׁלַ֤ח put forth šālaḥ יָדִי֙ mine hand yād בַּֽאדֹנִ֔י against my lord; ʾādôn כִּֽי for kî מְשִׁ֥יחַ anointed. māšîaḥ יְהוָ֖ה the Lord's yĕhōwâ הֽוּא׃ he hûʾ

וְאָבִ֣י Moreover, my father, ʾāb רְאֵ֔ה see, rāʾâ גַּ֗ם yea, gam רְאֵ֛ה see rāʾâ אֶת ʾēt כְּנַ֥ף the skirt kānāp מְעִֽילְךָ֖ of thy robe mĕʿîl בְּיָדִ֑י in my hand: yād כִּ֡י for kî בְּכָרְתִי֩ in that I cut off kārat אֶת ʾēt כְּנַ֨ף the skirt kānāp מְעִֽילְךָ֜ of thy robe, mĕʿîl וְלֹ֣א thee not, lōʾ הֲרַגְתִּ֗יךָ and killed hārag דַּ֤ע know yādaʿ וּרְאֵה֙ thou and see rāʾâ כִּי֩ that kî אֵ֨ין neither ʾayin בְּיָדִ֜י in mine hand, yād רָעָ֤ה evil raʿ וָפֶ֙שַׁע֙ nor transgression pešaʿ וְלֹֽא and I have not lōʾ חָטָ֣אתִי sinned ḥāṭāʾ לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֛ה against thee; yet thou ʾattâ צֹדֶ֥ה huntest ṣādâ אֶת ʾēt נַפְשִׁ֖י my soul nepeš לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃ to take it. lāqaḥ

יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט judge šāpaṭ יְהוָה֙ The Lord yĕhōwâ בֵּינִ֣י between bên וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ bên וּנְקָמַ֥נִי avenge nāqam יְהוָ֖ה me and thee, and the Lord yĕhōwâ מִמֶּ֑ךָּ me of min וְיָדִ֖י thee: but mine hand yād לֹ֥א shall not lōʾ תִֽהְיֶה be upon thee. hāyâ בָּֽךְ׃

כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר As ʾăšer יֹאמַ֗ר saith ʾāmar מְשַׁל֙ the proverb māšāl הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י of the ancients, qadmônî מֵֽרְשָׁעִ֖ים from the wicked: rāšāʿ יֵ֣צֵא proceedeth yāṣāʾ רֶ֑שַׁע Wickedness rešaʿ וְיָדִ֖י but mine hand yād לֹ֥א shall not lōʾ תִֽהְיֶה be upon thee. hāyâ בָּֽךְ׃

אַֽחֲרֵ֨י After ʾaḥar מִ֤י whom mî יָצָא֙ come out? yāṣāʾ מֶ֣לֶךְ is the king melek יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel yiśrāʾēl אַֽחֲרֵ֥י after ʾaḥar מִ֖י whom mî אַתָּ֣ה dost thou ʾattâ רֹדֵ֑ף pursue? rādap אַֽחֲרֵי֙ after ʾaḥar כֶּ֣לֶב dog, keleb מֵ֔ת a dead mût אַֽחֲרֵ֖י after ʾaḥar פַּרְעֹ֥שׁ flea. parʿōš אֶחָֽד׃ a ʾeḥād

וְהָיָ֤ה therefore be hāyâ יְהוָה֙ The Lord yĕhōwâ לְדַיָּ֔ן judge, dayyān וְשָׁפַ֖ט and judge šāpaṭ בֵּינִ֣י between bên וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ bên וְיֵ֙רֶא֙ me and thee, and see, rāʾâ וְיָרֵ֣ב and plead rîb אֶת ʾēt רִיבִ֔י my cause, rîb וְיִשְׁפְּטֵ֖נִי and deliver šāpaṭ מִיָּדֶֽךָ׃ me out of thine hand. yād

וַיְהִ֣י׀ And it came to pass, hāyâ כְּכַלּ֣וֹת had made an end kālâ דָּוִ֗ד when David dāwid לְדַבֵּ֞ר of speaking dābar אֶת ʾēt הַדְּבָרִ֤ים words dābār הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ these ʾēlle אֶל unto ʾēl שָׁא֔וּל Saul, šāʾûl וַיֹּ֣אמֶר said, ʾāmar שָׁא֔וּל that Saul šāʾûl הֲקֹֽלְךָ֥ thy voice, qôl זֶ֖ה this ze בְּנִ֣י my son bēn דָוִ֑ד David? dāwid וַיִּשָּׂ֥א lifted up nāśāʾ שָׁא֛וּל And Saul šāʾûl קֹל֖וֹ his voice, qôl וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃ and wept. bākâ

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ And he said ʾāmar אֶל to ʾēl דָּוִ֔ד David, dāwid צַדִּ֥יק more righteous ṣaddîq אַתָּ֖ה Thou ʾattâ מִמֶּ֑נִּי than min כִּ֤י I: for kî אַתָּה֙ thou ʾattâ גְּמַלְתַּ֣נִי hast rewarded gāmal הַטּוֹבָ֔ה me good, ṭôb וַֽאֲנִ֖י whereas I ʾănî גְּמַלְתִּ֥יךָ have rewarded gāmal הָֽרָעָֽה׃ thee evil. raʿ

וְאַתָּ And thou ʾattâ הִגַּ֣דְתָּ hast shewed nāgad הַיּ֔וֹם this day yôm אֵ֛ת ʾēt אֲשֶׁר how that ʾăšer עָשִׂ֥יתָה thou hast dealt ʿāśâ אִתִּ֖י with ʾēt טוֹבָ֑ה well ṭôb אֵת֩ me: ʾēt אֲשֶׁ֨ר forasmuch as when ʾăšer סִגְּרַ֧נִי had delivered sāgar יְהוָ֛ה the Lord yĕhōwâ בְּיָֽדְךָ֖ me into thine hand, yād וְלֹ֥א me not. lōʾ הֲרַגְתָּֽנִי׃ thou killedst hārag

וְכִֽי For if kî יִמְצָ֥א find māṣāʾ אִישׁ֙ a man ʾîš אֶת ʾēt אֹ֣יְב֔וֹ his enemy, ʾōyēb וְשִׁלְּח֖וֹ will he let him go šālaḥ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ away? derek טוֹבָ֑ה well ṭôb וַֽיהוָה֙ wherefore the Lord yĕhōwâ יְשַׁלֶּמְךָ֣ reward šālam טוֹבָ֔ה thee good ṭôb תַּ֚חַת for taḥat הַיּ֣וֹם day. yôm הַזֶּ֔ה unto me this ze אֲשֶׁ֥ר that ʾăšer עָשִׂ֖יתָה thou hast done ʿāśâ לִֽי׃

וְעַתָּה֙ And now, ʿattâ הִנֵּ֣ה behold, hinnē יָדַ֔עְתִּי I know well yādaʿ כִּ֥י that kî מָלֹ֖ךְ thou shalt surely mālak תִּמְל֑וֹךְ be king, mālak וְקָ֙מָה֙ shall be established qûm בְּיָ֣דְךָ֔ in thine hand. yād מַמְלֶ֖כֶת and that the kingdom mamlākâ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ of Israel yiśrāʾēl

וְעַתָּ֗ה now ʿattâ הִשָּׁ֤בְעָה Swear šābaʿ לִּי֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה therefore unto me by the Lord, yĕhōwâ אִם that thou wilt not ʾim תַּכְרִ֥ית cut off kārat אֶת ʾēt זַרְעִ֖י my seed zeraʿ אַֽחֲרָ֑י after me, ʾaḥar וְאִם and that thou wilt not ʾim תַּשְׁמִ֥יד destroy šāmad אֶת ʾēt שְׁמִ֖י my name šēm מִבֵּ֥ית house. bayit אָבִֽי׃ out of my father's ʾāb

וַיִּשָּׁבַ֥ע sware šābaʿ דָּוִ֖ד And David dāwid לְשָׁא֑וּל unto Saul. šāʾûl וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ went hālak שָׁאוּל֙ And Saul šāʾûl אֶל ʾēl בֵּית֔וֹ home; bayit וְדָוִד֙ but David dāwid וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֔יו and his men ʾîš עָל֖וּ gat them up ʿālâ עַל unto ʿal הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃ the hold. māṣûd