1 Samuel 24
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1After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi."1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "Look, David is in the wilderness of 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.2Saul took 3,000 of his best troops from all over Israel, and he went to look for David and his men in the direction 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.3He came to the sheepfolds beside the road. There was a cave there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses 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.4David's men told him, "Look, today is the day about which the LORD spoke to you when he said, 'I'll give your enemy into your hand.' Do to him whatever you want!" David rose and stealthily cut off the corner of Saul's robe.
5Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.5Afterwards, 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 told his men, "God forbid that I should do this thing to your majesty, the LORD's anointed, by stretching out my hand against him, since he's 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.7David restrained his men with his words and did not allow them to rebel against Saul. Saul got up from the cave and started off.
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.8Then David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul: "Your majesty!" Saul looked behind him, and David bowed down with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?9Then David told Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'Look, David is trying 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.'10Look, this very day you saw with your own eyes that the LORD gave you into my control in the cave, and one of my men told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and responded, 'I won't lift my hand against his majesty because he's 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.11Looke, my father, look! The corner of your robe is in my hand. Indeed, by my cutting off the corner of your robe and not killing you, you may know and understand that I have no evil intent or transgression—I haven't wronged you, even though you are hunting me 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.12May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you.
13As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.13Just like the ancient proverb says, 'From wicked people comes wickedness,' but I'm not against you.
14"Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?14After whom is the king of Israel going out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog or a single 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 act as judge, and may he decide between me and you. May he see, may he plead my case, and may he vindicate me in this dispute against you."
16When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.16When David had finished saying these things to Saul, Saul asked, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Then Saul cried loudly
17"You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.17to David, "You are more righteous than I am, because you have treated me well even though I've treated you poorly.
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 have explained how you treated me well, in that the LORD delivered me into your hand but 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.19For who would find his enemy and then send him away safely? May the LORD repay you for what you have done for me today.
20I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.20Now I know for certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom will be established under your authority.
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."21Now swear to me by the LORD that you will never eliminate my descendants after me, and that you won't erase 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.22David made this vow to Saul, and then Saul went home, while David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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1 Samuel 23
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