Parallel Bible results for "1 samuel 24"

1 Samuel 24

New Living Translation NLT

1 After Saul returned from fighting the Philistines, he was told that David had gone into the wilderness of En-gedi.

2 So Saul chose 3,000 elite troops from all Israel and went to search for David and his men near the rocks of the wild goats.

3 At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!

4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the LORD is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.

5 But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD ’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him.”

7 So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,

8 David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.

9 Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?

10 This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the LORD placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the LORD ’s anointed one.’

11 Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me.

12 “May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.

13 As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.

14 Who is the king of Israel trying to catch anyway? Should he spend his time chasing one who is as worthless as a dead dog or a single flea?

15 May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.

17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.

18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.

19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.

20 And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.

21 Now swear to me by the LORD that when that happens you will not kill my family and destroy my line of descendants!”

22 So David promised this to Saul with an oath. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went back to their stronghold.

Common English Bible CEB

1 Even as Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was informed that David was in the En-gedi wilderness.

2 So Saul took three thousand men selected from all Israel and went to look for David and his soldiers near the rocks of the wild goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens beside the road where there was a cave. Saul went into the cave to use the restroom. Meanwhile, David and his soldiers were sitting in the very back of the cave.

4 David's soldiers said to him, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he promised you, ‘I will hand your enemy over to you, and you can do to him whatever you think best.'" So David snuck up and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

5 But immediately David felt horrible that he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

6 "The LORD forbid," he told his men, "that I should do something like that to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him, because he's the LORD's anointed!"

7 So David held his soldiers in check by what he said, and he wouldn't allow them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way.

8 Then David also went out of the cave and yelled after Saul, "My master the king!" Saul looked back, and David bowed low out of respect, nose to the ground.

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

10 Look! Today your own eyes have seen that the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. But I refused to kill you. I spared you, saying, ‘I won't lift a hand against my master because he is the LORD's anointed.'

11 Look here, my protector! See the corner of your robe in my hand? I cut off the corner of your robe but didn't kill you. So know now that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I haven't wronged you, but you are hunting me down, trying to kill me.

12 May the LORD judge between me and you! May the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but I won't lift a hand against you.

13 As the old proverb goes, ‘Evil deeds come from evildoers!' but I won't lift a hand against you.

14 So who is Israel's king coming after? Who are you chasing? A dead dog? A single flea?

15 May the LORD be the judge and decide between you and me. May he see what has happened, argue my case, and vindicate me against you!"

16 As soon as David finished saying all this to Saul, Saul said, "David, my son, is that your voice?" Then he broke down in tears,

17 telling David, "You are more righteous than I am because you have treated me generously, but I have treated you terribly.

18 Today you've told me the good you have done for me—how the LORD handed me over to you, but how you didn't kill me.

19 When someone finds an enemy, do they send the enemy away in peace? May the LORD repay you with good for what you have done for me today.

20 Now even I know that you will definitely become king, and Israel's kingdom will flourish in your hands.

21 Because of that, make a solemn pledge to me by the LORD that you won't kill off my descendants after I'm gone and that you won't destroy my name from my family lineage."

22 David made a solemn pledge to Saul. Then Saul went back home, but David and his soldiers went up to the fortress.