| New King James Version | NET 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, they told him, "Look, David is in the desert of 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 select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 an 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.” | 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 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 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. |
| 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. | 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, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you pay attention when men say, 'David is seeking to do you harm'? |
| 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.’ | 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.' |
| 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, 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. |
| 12Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on 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, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ 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? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? | 14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are 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.” | 15May the LORD be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!" |
| 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 speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Saul wept loudly. |
| 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 innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm 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 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 get away safely? Therefore 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 I know indeed 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. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 22So David swore to Saul. And 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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