| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” | 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 from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on 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. |
| 3So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying 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. |
| 4Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’ ” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner 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. |
| 5Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. | 5Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 6And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my 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 restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from 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, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. | 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: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? | 9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you?' |
| 10Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my 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! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life 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. |
| 12Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall 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. |
| 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ 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. |
| 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? | 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? |
| 15Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your 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." |
| 16So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is this your 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 |
| 17Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil. | 17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. |
| 18And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, 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. |
| 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to 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 I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall 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. |
| 21Therefore swear now 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 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." |
| 22So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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