| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. | 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness near En-gedi." |
| 2Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. | 2So Saul took 3,000 of Israel's choice men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
| 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. | 3When Saul came to the sheep pens along the road, a cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. David and his men were staying in the back of the cave, |
| 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. | 4so they said to him, "Look, this is the day the LORD told you about: 'I will hand your enemy over to you so you can do to him whatever you desire.'" Then David got up and secretly cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 5And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. | 5Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD. | 6He said to his men, "I swear before the LORD: I would never do such a thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed. I will never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD's anointed." |
| 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. | 7With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. |
| 8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. | 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed to the ground in homage. |
| 9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends to harm you? |
| 10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed. | 10You can see with your own eyes that the LORD handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won't lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD's anointed. |
| 11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. | 11See, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Look and recognize that there is no evil or rebellion in me. I haven't sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life. |
| 12The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. | 12"May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you. |
| 13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. | 13As the old proverb says, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.' My hand will never be against you. |
| 14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. | 14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 15The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. | 15May the LORD be judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you." |
| 16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. | 16When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud |
| 17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. | 17and 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. |
| 18And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. | 18You yourself have told me today what good you did for me: when the LORD handed me over to you, you didn't kill me. |
| 19For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. | 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go unharmed? May the LORD repay you with good for what you've done for me today. |
| 20And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. | 20"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 21Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. | 21Therefore swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." |
| 22And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. | 22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
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