| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, "Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi." | 1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." |
| 2So Saul took three thousand select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain 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. |
| 3He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses 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. |
| 4David's men said to him, "This is the day about which the LORD said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.'" So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul's robe. | 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. |
| 5Afterward David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe. | 5Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 6He said to his men, "May the LORD keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the LORD's chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the LORD's chosen one." | 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." |
| 7David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road. | 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. |
| 8Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out after Saul, "My lord, O king!" When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground. | 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. |
| 9David said to Saul, "Why do you pay attention when men say, 'David is seeking to do you harm'? | 9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you?' |
| 10Today your own eyes see how the LORD delivered you--this very day--into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, 'I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's chosen one.' | 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.' |
| 11Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn't kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. | 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. |
| 12May the LORD judge between the two of us, and may the LORD vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you. | 12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you. |
| 13It's like the old proverb says: 'From evil people evil proceeds.' But my hand will not be against you. | 13Just like the ancient proverb says, 'From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you. |
| 14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? | 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? |
| 15May the LORD be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!" | 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." |
| 16When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Saul wept loudly. | 16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly |
| 17He said to David, "You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! | 17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. |
| 18You have explained today how you have treated me well. The LORD delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me. | 18You have explained how you treated me well, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand but you didn't kill me. |
| 19Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his way in good shape? May the LORD repay you with good this day for what you have done to 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. |
| 20Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. | 20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. |
| 21So now swear to me in the LORD's name that you will not kill my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father." | 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." |
| 22David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
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