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1 Samuel 24

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told: David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi. Saul chose three thousand men from all Israel and went looking for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens beside the road, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to relieve himself, while David an

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David spares Saul

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told: David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi. Saul chose three thousand men from all Israel and went looking for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens beside the road, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to relieve himself, while David and his men were sitting deep in the cave. David's men whispered: This is the day the Lord told you about — I'm giving your enemy into your hand, and you can do whatever you think best. David crept up and quietly cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Afterwards David's conscience bothered him because he'd cut Saul's robe. He told his men: The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, and lay a hand on him. He is the Lord's anointed. With these words David restrained his men and would not let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went on his way.

And when Saul had come back from chasing the Philistines, he was told: Look — David is in the wilderness of En Gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to look for David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men were staying in the sides of the cave. And the men of David said to him: Look — this is the day the Lord said to you: I'll hand over the one against you into your hand, so you can do to him what seems good to you. Then David got up and quietly cut off the edge of Saul's robe. And afterwards David's heart struck him, because he'd cut off Saul's edge. And he said to his men: The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he's the anointed of the Lord. So David held his servants back with these words and wouldn't let them get up against Saul. But Saul got up out of the cave and went on his way.

And 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. Then 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. And 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. And 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. And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. And 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. So 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.

1

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told: David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi.

Plain English

And when Saul had come back from chasing the Philistines, he was told: Look — David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

2

Saul chose three thousand men from all Israel and went looking for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

Plain English

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to look for David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.

King James Version, 1611

Then 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.

3

He came to the sheep pens beside the road, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to relieve himself, while David and his men were sitting deep in the cave.

Plain English

And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men were staying in the sides of the cave.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

4

David's men whispered: This is the day the Lord told you about — I'm giving your enemy into your hand, and you can do whatever you think best. David crept up and quietly cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

Plain English

And the men of David said to him: Look — this is the day the Lord said to you: I'll hand over the one against you into your hand, so you can do to him what seems good to you. Then David got up and quietly cut off the edge of Saul's robe.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

5

Afterwards David's conscience bothered him because he'd cut Saul's robe.

Plain English

And afterwards David's heart struck him, because he'd cut off Saul's edge.

King James Version, 1611

And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.

6

He told his men: The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, and lay a hand on him. He is the Lord's anointed.

Plain English

And he said to his men: The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he's the anointed of the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

7

With these words David restrained his men and would not let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went on his way.

Plain English

So David held his servants back with these words and wouldn't let them get up against Saul. But Saul got up out of the cave and went on his way.

King James Version, 1611

So 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.

David calls out to Saul

Afterwards David came out of the cave and called: My lord the king! Saul looked back, and David bowed low with his face to the ground. David said to Saul: Why do you listen when people say, David means to harm you? Today you've seen with your own eyes that the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said: I won't lay a hand on my master, because he's the Lord's anointed. Look, my father — see the corner of your robe in my hand. I cut it off but didn't kill you. So understand that I have no evil or rebellion in mind. I haven't sinned against you, though you're hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you. As the old saying goes: Wickedness comes from the wicked. But my hand will never be against you. Who has the king of Israel come out to chase? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he examine my cause, defend it and rescue me from your hand. When David finished speaking, Saul said: Is that your voice, my son David? Then Saul lifted his voice and wept. He said to David: You're more righteous than I am. You've treated me well, while I've treated you badly. Today you've shown how well you've treated me. The Lord gave me into your hands, yet you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he send him safely on his way? May the Lord reward you for the good you've done for me today. Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. Now swear to me by the Lord that you won't cut off my descendants after me or wipe my name from my father's house. David gave Saul his oath. Saul went home, while David and his men returned to the stronghold.

David got up afterwards too and went out of the cave, and called out after Saul: My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed his face to the earth and bowed down. And David said to Saul: Why do you listen to men's words: Look, David is looking to hurt you? Look — today your eyes have seen how the Lord had handed you over into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you. But my eye spared you. And I said: I won't put out my hand against my lord, because he's the Lord's anointed. What's more, my father, look — see the edge of your robe in my hand. Because in that I cut off the edge of your robe and didn't kill you, know and see that there's no evil or wrongdoing in my hand. And I haven't sinned against you. But you hunt my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord pay you back for me. But my hand won't be on you. The way the old saying says: Wickedness comes from the wicked. But my hand won't be on you. Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who do you chase? A dead dog. A flea. So let the Lord be judge and judge between me and you, and see and plead my case, and rescue me out of your hand. And when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said: Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David: You're more righteous than me. Because you've paid me back with good, and I've paid you back with evil. And you've shown today how you've dealt well with me. Because when the Lord had handed me over into your hand, you didn't kill me. Because if a man finds the one against him, will he let him get away well? So the Lord pay you back with good for what you've done to me today. And now look — I know well that you'll definitely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made firm in your hand. So swear to me now by the Lord that you won't cut off my offspring after me, and that you won't wipe out my name from my father's house. And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home. But David and his men got themselves up to the stronghold.

David 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. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Behold, 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. Moreover, 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. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. And 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. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And 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. For 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. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear 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. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

8

Afterwards David came out of the cave and called: My lord the king! Saul looked back, and David bowed low with his face to the ground.

Plain English

David got up afterwards too and went out of the cave, and called out after Saul: My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed his face to the earth and bowed down.

King James Version, 1611

David 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.

9

David said to Saul: Why do you listen when people say, David means to harm you?

Plain English

And David said to Saul: Why do you listen to men's words: Look, David is looking to hurt you?

King James Version, 1611

And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

10

Today you've seen with your own eyes that the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said: I won't lay a hand on my master, because he's the Lord's anointed.

Plain English

Look — today your eyes have seen how the Lord had handed you over into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you. But my eye spared you. And I said: I won't put out my hand against my lord, because he's the Lord's anointed.

King James Version, 1611

Behold, 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.

11

Look, my father — see the corner of your robe in my hand. I cut it off but didn't kill you. So understand that I have no evil or rebellion in mind. I haven't sinned against you, though you're hunting me down to take my life.

Plain English

What's more, my father, look — see the edge of your robe in my hand. Because in that I cut off the edge of your robe and didn't kill you, know and see that there's no evil or wrongdoing in my hand. And I haven't sinned against you. But you hunt my soul to take it.

King James Version, 1611

Moreover, 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.

12

May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord avenge me on you, but my hand will not be against you.

Plain English

The Lord judge between me and you, and the Lord pay you back for me. But my hand won't be on you.

King James Version, 1611

The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

13

As the old saying goes: Wickedness comes from the wicked. But my hand will never be against you.

Plain English

The way the old saying says: Wickedness comes from the wicked. But my hand won't be on you.

King James Version, 1611

As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14

Who has the king of Israel come out to chase? A dead dog? A flea?

Plain English

Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who do you chase? A dead dog. A flea.

King James Version, 1611

After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.

15

May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he examine my cause, defend it and rescue me from your hand.

Plain English

So let the Lord be judge and judge between me and you, and see and plead my case, and rescue me out of your hand.

King James Version, 1611

The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.

16

When David finished speaking, Saul said: Is that your voice, my son David? Then Saul lifted his voice and wept.

Plain English

And when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said: Is this your voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

17

He said to David: You're more righteous than I am. You've treated me well, while I've treated you badly.

Plain English

And he said to David: You're more righteous than me. Because you've paid me back with good, and I've paid you back with evil.

King James Version, 1611

And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18

Today you've shown how well you've treated me. The Lord gave me into your hands, yet you did not kill me.

Plain English

And you've shown today how you've dealt well with me. Because when the Lord had handed me over into your hand, you didn't kill me.

King James Version, 1611

And 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.

19

When a man finds his enemy, does he send him safely on his way? May the Lord reward you for the good you've done for me today.

Plain English

Because if a man finds the one against him, will he let him get away well? So the Lord pay you back with good for what you've done to me today.

King James Version, 1611

For 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.

20

Now I know for certain you will be king, and the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

Plain English

And now look — I know well that you'll definitely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made firm in your hand.

King James Version, 1611

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

21

Now swear to me by the Lord that you won't cut off my descendants after me or wipe my name from my father's house.

Plain English

So swear to me now by the Lord that you won't cut off my offspring after me, and that you won't wipe out my name from my father's house.

King James Version, 1611

Swear 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.

22

David gave Saul his oath. Saul went home, while David and his men returned to the stronghold.

Plain English

And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home. But David and his men got themselves up to the stronghold.

King James Version, 1611

And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.