| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 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.” | 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 from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 5Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. | 5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his 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, "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 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 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, 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. | 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: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? | 9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming 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.’ | 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! 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. | 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. |
| 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 you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. |
| 13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you. | 13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. |
| 14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? | 14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A 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 decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering 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 finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he 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. | 17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. |
| 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 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 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 get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated 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. | 20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. |
| 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.” | 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." |
| 22So David swore to Saul. And Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned 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 International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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