| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, "Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi." | 1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert 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. | 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 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 5Afterward David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe. | 5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his 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 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 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. | 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. |
| 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 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 pay attention when men say, 'David is seeking to do you harm'? | 9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming 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.' | 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.' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. |
| 13It's like the old proverb says: 'From evil people evil proceeds.' But my hand will not be against you. | 13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. |
| 14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are 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? |
| 15May the LORD be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!" | 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 finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Saul wept loudly. | 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 innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! | 17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. |
| 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 just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not 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. | 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. |
| 20Now look, I realize that you will in fact 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. |
| 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 not kill off my descendants or wipe out 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. | 22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
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