1 Samuel 24:17
◄  1 Samuel 24:17  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

New Living Translation (©2007)
And he said to David, "You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.

English Standard Version (©2001)
He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
and said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have done what is good to me though I have done what is evil to you.

International Standard Version (©2012)
to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly.

NET Bible (©2006)
He said to David, "You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He told David, "You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he said to David, you are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.

American King James Version
And he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil.

American Standard Version
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to David: Thou art more just than I: for thou hast done good to me, and I have rewarded thee with evil.

Darby Bible Translation
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

English Revised Version
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to David, thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded thee with evil.

World English Bible
He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto David, 'More righteous thou art than I; for thou hast done me good, and I have done thee evil;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

24:16-22 Saul speaks as quite overcome with David's kindness. Many mourn for their sins, who do not truly repent of them; weep bitterly for them, yet continue in love and in league with them. Now God made good to David that word on which he had caused him to hope, that he would bring forth his righteousness as the light, Ps 37:6. Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may leave it to God to secure them the credit of it. Sooner or later, God will force even those who are of the synagogue of Satan to know and to own those whom he has loved. They parted in peace. Saul went home convinced, but not converted; ashamed of his envy to David, yet retaining in his breast that root of bitterness; vexed that when at last he had found David, he could not find in his heart to destroy him, as he had designed. Malice often seems dead when it is only asleep, and will revive with double force. Yet, whether the Lord bind men's hands, or affect their hearts, so that they do not hurt us, the deliverance is equally from him; it is an evidence of his love, and an earnest of our salvation, and should make us thankful.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he said to David, thou art more righteous than I,.... By which it appears he thought himself righteous, though David was more so; the righteousness of David was so glaring, that his enemy himself being judge acknowledges it, but will not confess his own wickedness, having no true sense of sin, nor real sorrow for it:

for thou hast rewarded me good; in times past, and now; heretofore in killing Goliath, fighting his battles for him against the Philistines, driving the evil spirit from him, by playing on the harp before him, and now by sparing his life, only cutting off the skirt of his garment, when he could with equal ease have cut off his head:

whereas I have rewarded thee evil: in seeking to take away his life at various times, by casting a javelin at him more than once, sending messengers to kill him, and hunting after him from place to place, to take him and slay him.

1 Samuel 24:17 Parallel Commentaries

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David's Oath to Saul
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. 17And he said to David, You are more righteous than I: for you have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded you evil. 18And you have showed this day how that you have dealt well with me: for as much as when the LORD had delivered me into your hand, you killed me not. …

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Genesis 38:26 Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again.
1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong."