| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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! | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 5But then David’s conscience began bothering 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. |
| 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, "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 men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone 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 came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. | 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. |
| 9Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks 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.’ | 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.' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you. | 13"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not 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? | 14"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single 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!” | 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." |
| 16When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry. | 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. |
| 17And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule. | 20"Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 21Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!” | 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 promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold. | 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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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