| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." | 1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 5Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. | 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a 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." | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you?' | 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? |
| 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 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.’ |
| 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, 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. |
| 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 me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. |
| 13Just like the ancient proverb says, 'From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you. | 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. |
| 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? | 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After 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 therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause 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 | 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. |
| 17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. | 17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. | 20And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. |
| 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." | 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.” |
| 22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went 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. | 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. |
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