| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. | 1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." |
| 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. | 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. |
| 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. | 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. |
| 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. | 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. |
| 5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. | 5Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. | 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." |
| 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. | 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. |
| 8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. | 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. |
| 9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? | 9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you?' |
| 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. | 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.' |
| 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. | 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. |
| 12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. | 12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you. |
| 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. | 13Just like the ancient proverb says, 'From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you. |
| 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. | 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? |
| 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. | 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." |
| 16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. | 16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly |
| 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. | 17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. |
| 18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. | 18You have explained how you treated me well, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand but you didn't kill me. |
| 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. | 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. |
| 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. | 20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. |
| 21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. | 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." |
| 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. | 22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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