Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 24"

1 Samuel 24

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.

2 Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.

3 And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.

4 And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.

5 And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.

6 And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.

7 So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.

8 And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.

9 And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?

10 Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.

11 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.

12 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

13 There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.

15 So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.

16 Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.

17 And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.

18 And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.

19 If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.

20 And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.

21 So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.

22 And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.

Good News Translation GNT

1 When Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness near Engedi.

2 Saul took three thousand of the best soldiers in Israel and went looking for David and his men east of Wild Goat Rocks.

3 He came to a cave close to some sheep pens by the road and went in to relieve himself. It happened to be the very cave in which David and his men were hiding far back in the cave.

4 They said to him, "This is your chance! The Lord has told you that he would put your enemy in your power and you could do to him whatever you wanted to." David crept over and cut off a piece of Saul's robe without Saul's knowing it.

5 But then David's conscience began to hurt,

6 and he said to his men, "May the Lord keep me from doing any harm to my master, whom the Lord chose as king! I must not harm him in the least, because he is the king chosen by the Lord!"

7 So David convinced his men that they should not attack Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and started away.

8 Then David went out after him and called to him, "Your Majesty!" Saul turned around, and David bowed down to the ground in respect

9 and said, "Why do you listen to people who say that I am trying to harm you?

10 You can see for yourself that just now in the cave the Lord put you in my power. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I felt sorry for you and said that I would not harm you in the least, because you are the one whom the Lord chose to be king.

11 Look, my father, look at the piece of your robe I am holding! I could have killed you, but instead I only cut this off. This should convince you that I have no thought of rebelling against you or of harming you. You are hunting me down to kill me, even though I have not done you any wrong.

12 May the Lord judge which one of us is wrong! May he punish you for your action against me, for I will not harm you in the least.

13 You know the old saying, "Evil is done only by evil people.' And so I will not harm you.

14 Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea!

15 The Lord will judge, and he will decide which one of us is wrong. May he look into the matter, defend me, and save me from you."

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul said, "Is that really you, David my son?" And he started crying.

17 Then he said to David, "You are right, and I am wrong. You have been so good to me, while I have done such wrong to you!

18 Today you have shown how good you are to me, because you did not kill me, even though the Lord put me in your power.

19 How often does someone catch an enemy and then let him get away unharmed? The Lord bless you for what you have done to me today!

20 Now I am sure that you will be king of Israel and that the kingdom will continue under your rule.

21 But promise me in the Lord's name that you will spare my descendants, so that my name and my family's name will not be completely forgotten."

22 David promised that he would. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went back to their hiding place.