Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 When Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David was in the wilderness near Engedi.
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When Saul had returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.”
2 Saul took three thousand of the best soldiers in Israel and went looking for David and his men east of Wild Goat Rocks.
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Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
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.
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He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of 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.
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David’s men said to him, “Behold, the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly.
5 But then David's conscience began to hurt,
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Afterward, David’s heart struck him because he had cut off Saul’s skirt.
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!"
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He said to his men, “The LORD forbid 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 So David convinced his men that they should not attack Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and started away.
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So David checked his men with these words, and didn’t allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
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
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David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect.
9 and said, "Why do you listen to people who say that I am trying to harm you?
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David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to men’s words, saying, ‘Behold, David seeks 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.
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Behold, today your eyes have seen how the LORD had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.’
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.
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Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe and didn’t kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
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.
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May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
13 You know the old saying, "Evil is done only by evil people.' And so I will not harm you.
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As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness;’ but my hand will not be on you.
14 Look at what the king of Israel is trying to kill! Look at what he is chasing! A dead dog, a flea!
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Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? 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."
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May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”
16 When David had finished speaking, Saul said, "Is that really you, David my son?" And he started crying.
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It came to pass, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
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!
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He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil 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.
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You have declared today how you have dealt well with me, because when the LORD had delivered me up into your hand, you didn’t kill me.
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!
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For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may the LORD reward you good for that which 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.
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Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
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."
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Swear now therefore to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.”
22 David promised that he would. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went back to their hiding place.
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David swore to Saul. Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.