| New American Standard Bible 1995 | New International Version |
| 1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." | 1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." |
| 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. | 2So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. |
| 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. | 3He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. |
| 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. | 4The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and 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. | 5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. |
| 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." | 6He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." |
| 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. | 7With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. |
| 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. | 8Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. |
| 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'? | 9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? |
| 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.' | 10This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD's anointed.' |
| 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. | 11See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. |
| 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. | 12May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. |
| 13"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. | 13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. |
| 14"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea? | 14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 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." | 15May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand." |
| 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. | 16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. |
| 17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. | 17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. |
| 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. | 18You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. |
| 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. | 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. |
| 20"Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. | 20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. |
| 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." | 21Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." |
| 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but 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. |
| 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 | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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