Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 24"

1 Samuel 24

The Message Bible MSG

1 When Saul came back after dealing with the Philistines, he was told, "David is now in the wilderness of En Gedi."

2 Saul took three companies - the best he could find in all Israel - and set out in search of David and his men in the region of Wild Goat Rocks.

3 He came to some sheep pens along the road. There was a cave there and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were huddled far back in the same cave.

4 David's men whispered to him, "Can you believe it? This is the day God was talking about when he said, 'I'll put your enemy in your hands. You can do whatever you want with him.'" Quiet as a cat, David crept up and cut off a piece of Saul's royal robe.

5 Immediately, he felt guilty.

6 He said to his men, "God forbid that I should have done this to my master, God's anointed, that I should so much as raise a finger against him. He's God's anointed!"

7 David held his men in check with these words and wouldn't let them pounce on Saul. Saul got up, left the cave, and went on down the road.

8 Then David stood at the mouth of the cave and called to Saul, "My master! My king!" Saul looked back. David fell to his knees and bowed in reverence.

9 He called out, "Why do you listen to those who say 'David is out to get you'?

10 This very day with your very own eyes you have seen that just now in the cave God put you in my hands. My men wanted me to kill you, but I wouldn't do it. I told them that I won't lift a finger against my master - he's God's anointed.

11 Oh, my father, look at this, look at this piece that I cut from your robe. I could have cut you - killed you! - but I didn't. Look at the evidence! I'm not against you. I'm no rebel. I haven't sinned against you, and yet you're hunting me down to kill me.

12 Let's decide which of us is in the right. God may avenge me, but it is in his hands, not mine.

13 An old proverb says, 'Evil deeds come from evil people.' So be assured that my hand won't touch you.

14 "What does the king of Israel think he's doing? Who do you think you're chasing? A dead dog? A flea?

15 God is our judge. He'll decide who is right. Oh, that he would look down right now, decide right now - and set me free of you!"

16 When David had finished saying all this, Saul said, "Can this be the voice of my son David?" and he wept in loud sobs.

17 "You're the one in the right, not me," he continued. "You've heaped good on me; I've dumped evil on you.

18 And now you've done it again - treated me generously. God put me in your hands and you didn't kill me.

19 Why? When a man meets his enemy, does he send him down the road with a blessing? May God give you a bonus of blessings for what you've done for me today!

20 I know now beyond doubt that you will rule as king. The kingdom of Israel is already in your grasp!

21 Now promise me under God that you will not kill off my family or wipe my name off the books."

22 David promised Saul. Then Saul went home and David and his men went up to their wilderness refuge.

New Century Version NCV

1 After Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi."

2 So he took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and began looking for David and his men near the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

3 Saul came to the sheep pens beside the road. A cave was there, and he went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were hiding far back in the cave.

4 The men said to David, "Today is the day the Lord spoke of when he said, 'I will give your enemy over to you. Do anything you want with him.'" Then David crept up to Saul and quietly cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

5 Later David felt guilty because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

6 He said to his men, "May the Lord keep me from doing such a thing to my master! Saul is the Lord's appointed king. I should not do anything against him, because he is the Lord's appointed king!"

7 David used these words to stop his men; he did not let them attack Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went his way.

8 When David came out of the cave, he shouted to Saul, "My master and king!" Saul looked back, and David bowed facedown on the ground.

9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when people say, 'David wants to harm you'?

10 You have seen something with your own eyes today. The Lord put you in my power in the cave. They said I should kill you, but I was merciful. I said, 'I won't harm my master, because he is the Lord's appointed king.'

11 My father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe, but I didn't kill you. Now understand and know I am not planning any evil against you. I did nothing wrong to you, but you are hunting me to kill me.

12 May the Lord judge between us, and may he punish you for the wrong you have done to me! But I am not against you.

13 There is an old saying: 'Evil things come from evil people.' But I am not against you.

14 Whom is the king of Israel coming out against? Whom are you chasing? It's as if you are chasing a dead dog or a flea.

15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between you and me. May he support me and show that I am right. May he save me from you!"

16 When David finished saying these words, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he cried loudly.

17 He said, "You are a better man than I am. You have been good to me, but I have done wrong to you.

18 You told me what good things you did. The Lord handed me over to you, but you did not kill me.

19 If a person finds his enemy, he doesn't just send him on his way, does he? May the Lord reward you because you were good to me today.

20 I know you will surely be king, and you will rule the kingdom of Israel.

21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill my descendants and that you won't wipe out my name from my father's family."

22 So David made the promise to Saul. Then Saul went back home, and David and his men went up to their hideout.