The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 When Sha'ul returned from pursuing the P'lishtim, he was told that David was in the desert at 'Ein-Gedi.
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When Saul came back from [fighting] the Philistines, he was told "Now David is in the desert near En Gedi."
2 Sha'ul took three thousand men chosen from all Isra'el and went searching for David and his men on the cliffs where the mountain goats are.
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Then Saul took 3,000 of the best-trained men from all Israel and went to search for David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3 Near some sheep pens along the way was a cave, and Sha'ul went inside to relieve himself. It happened that David and his men were sitting in the recesses at the back of the cave;
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He came to some sheep pens along the road where there was a cave. Saul went into [it] to relieve himself while David and his men were sitting further back in the cave.
4 and David's men said to him, "Look! The day has come that ADONAI told you about when he said to you, 'I will turn your enemy over to you, and you will do to him whatever seems good to you.'"Then David stole over unobserved and cut off the corner of Sha'ul's cloak.
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David's men told him, "Today is the day the LORD referred to when he said, 'I'm going to hand your enemy over to you. You will do to him whatever you think is right.'" David quietly got up and cut off the border of Saul's robe.
5 But after doing this, David felt remorse over cutting Sha'ul's garment.
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But afterward, David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the border of Saul's robe.
6 He said to his men, "ADONAI forbid that I should do such a thing to my lord, ADONAI's anointed, as raise my hand against him! After all, he is ADONAI's anointed."
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He said to his men, "It would be unthinkable for me to raise my hand against His Majesty, the LORD's anointed king, since he is the LORD's anointed."
7 By saying this, David stopped his men and would not let them do anything to Sha'ul. Sha'ul got up, left the cave and went on his way.
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So David stopped his men by saying this to them and didn't let them attack Saul. Saul left the cave and went out onto the road.
8 Then David too got up and went outside the cave, where he called after Sha'ul, "My lord the king!" When Sha'ul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
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Later, David got up, left the cave, and called to Saul, "Your Majesty!" When Saul looked back, David knelt down with his face touching the ground.
9 David said to Sha'ul, "Why do you listen to people who say, 'David is out to harm you?'
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David asked Saul, "Why do you listen to rumors that I am trying to harm you?
10 Here, today you have seen with your own eyes that ADONAI put you in my power there in the cave. Some of my men said I should kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I won't raise my hand against my lord, because he is ADONAI's anointed.'
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Today you saw how the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you, I spared you, saying, 'I will not raise my hand against Your Majesty because you are the LORD's anointed.'
11 Moreover, my father, look! Here in my hand you see the corner of your cloak. By the fact that I only cut off a piece of your cloak and didn't kill you, you can see and understand that I have no plan to do harm or rebel, and that I haven't sinned against you -even though you are seeking every chance you get to take my life.
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My master, look at this! The border of your robe is in my hand! Since I cut off the border of your robe and didn't kill you, you should know and be able to see I mean no harm or rebellion. I haven't sinned against you, but you are trying to ambush me in order to take my life.
12 May ADONAI judge between you and me, and may ADONAI avenge me on you! But I will not lay a hand on you -
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May the LORD decide between you and me. May the LORD take revenge on you for what you did to me. However, I will not lay a hand on you.
13 as the old saying has it, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness, but I will not lay a hand on you.'
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It's like people used to say long ago, 'Wickedness comes from wicked people.' But I will not lay a hand on you.
14 The king of Isra'el has come on a campaign - after whom? Whom are you chasing? A dead dog! A single flea!
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Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? One flea?
15 ADONAI be the judge; let him decide between you and me. May he take my side and rescue me from your power!"
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So the LORD must be the judge. He will decide between you and me. He will watch and take my side in [this] matter and set me free from you."
16 After David had finished speaking to Sha'ul, Sha'ul said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" Then Sha'ul cried out and wept;
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When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that you speaking, my servant David?" and Saul cried loudly.
17 and he said to David, "You are more righteous than I, because you have treated me well, while I have been treating you badly.
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He told David, "You are more righteous than I. You treated me well while I treated you badly.
18 You have made it clear to me today that you have done me good; for when ADONAI put my fate in your hands, you didn't kill me.
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Today you have proved how good you've been to me. When the LORD handed me over to you, you didn't kill me.
19 A man finds his enemy and lets him go unharmed?! May ADONAI reward you well for what you did to me today.
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When a person finds an enemy, does he send him away unharmed? The LORD will repay you completely for what you did for me today.
20 Now I'm certain that you will indeed become king, and that the kingship of Isra'el will be established in your hands.
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Now I know that you certainly will rule as king, and under your guidance the kingdom of Israel will prosper.
21 So swear to me by ADONAI that you will not kill my descendants after I die or blot out my name from my father's family."
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Swear an oath to the LORD for me that you will not wipe out my descendants or destroy my name in my father's family."
22 David swore to Sha'ul, and Sha'ul went home, but David and his men went back up to the stronghold.
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So David swore to Saul. Then Saul went home, and David and his men went to their fortified camp.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.