1 Samuel 24 (New American Standard)

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David Spares Saul's Life

1 Now ¹when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, ²he was told, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." 2 Then ³Saul 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. 3 He came to the sheepfolds on the way, where there was a cave ; and Saul ⁴went in to ^arelieve himself. Now ⁵David and his men were sitting in the inner recesses of the cave. 4 The men of David said to him, "Behold, ⁶this is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold ; ⁷I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good ^bto you.' " Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly. 5 It came about afterward that ⁸David's ^cconscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe. 6 So he said to his men, "⁹Far 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." 7 David ^dpersuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul arose, ^eleft the cave, and went on his way. 8 Now afterward David arose and went out of the cave and called after Saul, saying, "My lord the king !" And when Saul looked behind him, ¹⁰David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. 9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men, saying, 'Behold, David seeks ^fto harm you'? 10 "¹¹Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD had given you today into my hand in the cave, and ¹²some 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.' 11 "Now, ¹³my 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 ^grebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you ¹⁴are lying in wait for my life to take it. 12 "¹⁵May the LORD judge between ^hyou and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. 13 "As the proverb of the ancients says, '¹⁶Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness '; but my hand shall not be against you. 14 "After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing ? ¹⁷A dead dog, ¹⁸a single flea ? 15 "¹⁹The LORD therefore be judge and decide between ⁱyou and me; and may He see and ²⁰plead my cause and ^jdeliver me from your hand." 16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "²¹Is this your voice, my son David ?" Then Saul lifted up his voice and wept. 17 ²²He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for ²³you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. 18 "You have declared today that you have done good to me, that ²⁴the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me. 19 "For if a man ²⁵finds his enemy, will he let him go away ^ksafely ? May the LORD therefore reward you with good in return for what you have done to me this day. 20 "Now, behold, ²⁶I know that you will surely be king, and that ²⁷the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand. 21 "So now ²⁸swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my ^ldescendants after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's household." 22 David swore to Saul. And Saul went to his home, but David and his men went up to ²⁹the stronghold.

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New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved. (New American Standard Version - Holy Bible)

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