1 Samuel 24 NLT NIV Parallel

◄ 1 Samuel 24 ►

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1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.

1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi."

2So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near 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.

3At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very 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.

4“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem 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.

5But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”

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."

7So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone 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.

8David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.

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.

9Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?

9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?

10This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD’s anointed 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, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

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 us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm 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.

13As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.

13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.

14Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or 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 therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

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, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.

16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.

17And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.

17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

18Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.

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.

19Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.

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.

20And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.

20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

21Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

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."

22So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.

22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

New International Version (NIV)

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