| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 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.” | 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness near 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. | 2So Saul took three thousand of Israel's fit young men and went to look for David and his men in front 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.) | 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 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. | 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. |
| 5Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. | 5Afterward, 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 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage. |
| 9And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends 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.’ | 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. |
| 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. | 11Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Recognize that I've committed no crime or rebellion. I haven't sinned against you even though you are hunting me down 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. | 12"May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you. |
| 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. | 13As the old proverb says, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.' My hand will never be against you. |
| 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? | 14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? 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 be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver me from 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 finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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 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. | 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. |
| 20And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. | 20"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 22So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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