1 Samuel 24:14 {15}
Good News Translation
Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea!

New Revised Standard Version
Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea?

Contemporary English Version
Why should the king of Israel be out chasing me, anyway? I'm as worthless as a dead dog or a flea.

New American Bible
What is the king of Israel attacking? What are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea!

Douay-Rheims Bible
After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.

the king

2 Samuel 6:20 And David returned to bless his own house: and Michol the daughter of Saul coming out to meet David, said: How glorious was the king of Israel to day, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants, and was naked, as if one of the buffoons should be naked.

1 Kings 21:7 Then Jezabel, his wife, said to him. Thou art of great authority indeed, and governest well the kingdom of Israel. Arise, and eat bread, and be of good cheer; I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezrahelite.

a dead dog

1 Samuel 17:43 And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

2 Samuel 3:8 Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? And he was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: Am I a dog's head against Juda this day, who have shewn mercy to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day against me to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?

2 Samuel 9:8 He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

2 Samuel 16:9 And Abisai the son of Sarvia said to the king: Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? I will go, and cut off his head.

a flea

1 Samuel 26:20 And now let not my blood be shed upon the earth before the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as the partridge is hunted in the mountains.

Judges 8:1-3 And the men of Ephraim said to him: What is this that thou meanest to do, that thou wouldst not call us, when thou wentest to fight against Madian? And they chid him sharply, and almost offered violence. . . .

Context
David Spares Saul
13As also it is said in the old proverb: From the wicked shall wickedness come forth: therefore my hand shall not be upon thee. After whom dost thou come out, O king of Israel? 14After whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea.15Be the Lord judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and judge my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.…
Cross References
1 Samuel 17:43
And the Philistine said to David: Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with a staff? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

1 Samuel 26:20
And now let not my blood be shed upon the earth before the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as the partridge is hunted in the mountains.

2 Samuel 3:8
Why didst thou go in to my father's concubine? And he was exceedingly angry for the words of Isboseth, and said: Am I a dog's head against Juda this day, who have shewn mercy to the house of Saul thy father, and to his brethren and friends, and have not delivered thee into the hands of David, and hast thou sought this day against me to charge me with a matter concerning a woman?

2 Samuel 9:8
He bowed down to him, and said: Who am I thy servant, that thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?

1 Samuel 24:13
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