| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. | 1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "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 upon 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. |
| 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides 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. |
| 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. | 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. |
| 5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. | 5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. |
| 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. | 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 stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went 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 also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. | 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. |
| 9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? | 9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? |
| 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. | 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.' |
| 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. | 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. |
| 12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. | 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 saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. | 13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. |
| 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. | 14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. | 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." |
| 16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. | 16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. |
| 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. | 17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. |
| 18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. | 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. |
| 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. | 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, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. | 20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. |
| 21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. | 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." |
| 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. | 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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