| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi. | 1After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” |
| 2So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats. | 2So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
| 3At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave! | 3Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. |
| 4“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. | 4So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. |
| 5But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. | 5Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. |
| 6He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.” | 6So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” |
| 7So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, | 7With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. |
| 8David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. | 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence |
| 9Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? | 9and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? |
| 10This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD’s anointed one.’ | 10Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ |
| 11Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. | 11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. |
| 12“May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you. | 12May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. |
| 13As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. | 13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you. |
| 14Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea? | 14Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 15May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!” | 15May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.” |
| 16When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. | 16When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud |
| 17And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil. | 17and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. |
| 18Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it. | 18And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. |
| 19Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today. | 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. |
| 20And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. | 20Now I know for sure that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. |
| 21Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” | 21So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” |
| 22So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold. | 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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