| International Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi." | 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness near En-gedi." |
| 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. | 2So Saul took 3,000 of Israel's choice men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
| 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. | 3When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the back of the cave, |
| 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. | 4so they said to him, "Look, this is the day the LORD told you about: 'I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.'" Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 5Afterwards, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. | 5Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 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." | 6He said to his men, "I swear before the LORD: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD's anointed." |
| 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. | 7With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. |
| 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. | 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage. |
| 9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying to harm you?' | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends to harm you? |
| 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.' | 10You can see with your own eyes that the LORD handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won't lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD's anointed. |
| 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. | 11See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven't sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life. |
| 12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you. | 12"May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you. |
| 13Just like the ancient proverb says, 'From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you. | 13As the old proverb says, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.' My hand will never be against you. |
| 14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single flea? | 14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 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." | 15May the LORD be judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you." |
| 16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly | 16When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud |
| 17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly. | 17and said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you. |
| 18You have explained how you treated me well, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand but you didn't kill me. | 18You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the LORD handed me over to you, you didn't kill 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. | 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May the LORD repay you with good for what you've done for me today. |
| 20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority. | 20"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 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." | 21Therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." |
| 22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
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