| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, "Look, David is in the desert 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 took three thousand select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain 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. |
| 3He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the 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. |
| 4David's men said to him, "This is the day about which the LORD said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.'" So David got up and quietly cut off an edge 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. |
| 5Afterward David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge 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. |
| 6He said to his men, "May the LORD keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the LORD's chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the LORD's chosen one." | 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." |
| 7David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road. | 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. |
| 8Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out after Saul, "My lord, O king!" When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground. | 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. |
| 9David said to Saul, "Why do you pay attention when men say, 'David is seeking to do you harm'? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks to harm you'? |
| 10Today your own eyes see how the LORD delivered you--this very day--into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, 'I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's chosen 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, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn't kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. | 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. |
| 12May the LORD judge between the two of us, and may the LORD vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against 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. |
| 13It's like the old proverb says: 'From evil people evil proceeds.' But my hand will not 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. |
| 14Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? 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 be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!" | 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 finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Saul wept loudly. | 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. |
| 17He said to David, "You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you! | 17He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. |
| 18You have explained today how you have treated me well. The LORD delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me. | 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. |
| 19Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his way in good shape? May the LORD repay you with good this day for what you have done to 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. |
| 20Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. | 20"Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 21So now swear to me in the LORD's name that you will not kill my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father." | 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." |
| 22David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold. | 22David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. |
| NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. 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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