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 International Version NIV

1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”

2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.

4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”

7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?

10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’

11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.

12 May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.

13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.

14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?

15 May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud.

17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.

18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.

19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.

20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

21 Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”

22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.