| International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." | 1After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” |
| 2Saul took 3,000 of his best troops from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. | 2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
| 3He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. | 3Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. |
| 4David's men told him, "Look, today is the day about which the LORD spoke to you when he said, 'I'll give your enemy into your hand.' Do to him whatever you want!" David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul's robe. | 4So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. |
| 5Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. | 5Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. |
| 6He told his men, "God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the LORD's anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he's the LORD's anointed." | 6So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” |
| 7David restrained his men with his words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off. | 7With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. |
| 8Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: "Your majesty!" Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. | 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence |
| 9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you?' | 9and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? |
| 10Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes that the LORD gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and responded, 'I won't lift my hand against his majesty because he's the LORD's anointed.' | 10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ |
| 11Looke, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven't wronged you, even though you are hunting me to take my life. | 11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. |
| 12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you. | 12May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. |
| 13Just like the ancient proverb says, 'From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you. | 13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you. |
| 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? | 14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 15May the LORD act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you." | 15May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.” |
| 16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly | 16When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud |
| 17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. | 17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. |
| 18You have explained how you treated me well, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand but you didn't kill me. | 18And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. |
| 19For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely? May the LORD repay you for what you have done for me today. | 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. |
| 20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. | 20Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. |
| 21Now swear to me by the LORD that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won't erase my name from my father's family." | 21So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” |
| 22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
|
