| New King James Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 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.” | 1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." |
| 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. | 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek 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.) | 3He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner 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. | 4The men of David said to him, "Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.'" Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly. |
| 5Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. | 5It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge 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.” | 6So he said to his men, "Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out 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. | 7David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, 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. | 8Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. |
| 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 men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks 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.’ | 10"Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and some said to kill you, but my eye had pity on you; and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for 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. | 11"Now, my father, see! Indeed, see the edge of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you, know and perceive that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life to take it. |
| 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 you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. |
| 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. | 13"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. |
| 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? | 14"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? 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.” | 15"The LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand." |
| 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 had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. |
| 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. | 17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with 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. | 18"You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not 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. | 19"For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safely? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. |
| 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, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that 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.” | 21"So now swear 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 household." |
| 22So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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