| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” | 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, "Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi." |
| 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. | 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. |
| 3And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. | 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. |
| 4And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. | 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. |
| 5And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had 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. |
| 6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” | 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." |
| 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. | 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. |
| 8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. | 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. |
| 9And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you pay attention when men say, 'David is seeking to do you harm'? |
| 10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’ | 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.' |
| 11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. | 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. |
| 12May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. | 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. |
| 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. | 13It's like the old proverb says: 'From evil people evil proceeds.' But my hand will not be against you. |
| 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! | 14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea? |
| 15May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” | 15May the LORD be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!" |
| 16As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. | 16When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Saul wept loudly. |
| 17He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. | 17He said to David, "You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! |
| 18And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands. | 18You have explained today how you have treated me well. The LORD delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me. |
| 19For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. | 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. |
| 20And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. | 20Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 21Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” | 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." |
| 22And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
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