| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi." | 1When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness near En-gedi." |
| 2So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags 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. |
| 3He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in 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, |
| 4The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe. | 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. |
| 5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. | 5Afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the corner of Saul's robe. |
| 6He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lay my hand on him; for 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." |
| 7With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went 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. |
| 8Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. | 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. |
| 9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'? | 9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, 'Look, David intends to harm you? |
| 10This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lay my hand on my lord, because 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. |
| 11See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. | 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. |
| 12May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. | 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 the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you. | 13As the old proverb says, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.' My hand will never be against you. |
| 14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? | 14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A flea? |
| 15May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering 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 finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud. | 16When David finished saying these things to him, Saul replied, "Is that your voice, David my son?" Then Saul wept aloud |
| 17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. | 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. |
| 18You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but 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. |
| 19When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. | 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. |
| 20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. | 20"Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. |
| 21Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family." | 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." |
| 22So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned 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 International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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