| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, 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 from all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. | 2So Saul took three thousand of Israel's fit young men and went to look for David and his men in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. |
| 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. | 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 recesses of the cave, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 5It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe. | 5Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage. |
| 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends to harm you'? |
| 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.' | 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. |
| 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. | 11Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn't kill you. Recognize that I've committed no crime or rebellion. I haven't sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life. |
| 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. | 12"May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you. |
| 13"As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you. | 13As the old proverb says, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.' My hand will never be against you. |
| 14"After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea? | 14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea? |
| 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." | 15May the LORD be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you." |
| 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. | 16When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud |
| 17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 20"Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. | 20"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 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." | 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." |
| 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
| 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 | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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