| English Standard Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” | 1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." |
| 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. | 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
| 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. | 3He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. |
| 4And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. | 4The men of David said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.'" Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly. |
| 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. | 5It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe. |
| 6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” | 6So he said to his men, "Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed." |
| 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. | 7David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, left the cave, and went on his way. |
| 8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. | 8Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. |
| 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'? |
| 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ | 10"Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD'S anointed.' |
| 11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. | 11"Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it. |
| 12May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. | 12"May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. |
| 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. | 13"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. |
| 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! | 14"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea? |
| 15May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” | 15"The LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand." |
| 16As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. | 16When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. |
| 17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. | 17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. |
| 18And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. | 18"You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. |
| 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. | 19"For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. |
| 20And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. | 20"Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 21Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” | 21"So now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's household." |
| 22And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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