New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En-gedi."
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Now when Saul came back from fighting the Philistines, news was given him that David was in the waste land of En-gedi.
2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
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Then Saul took three thousand of the best men out of all Israel, and went in search of David and his men on the rocks of the mountain goats.
3 He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.
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And on the way he came to a place where sheep were kept, where there was a hollow in the rock; and Saul went in for a private purpose. Now David and his men were in the deepest part of the hollow.
4 The men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, "I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.' " Then David went and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's cloak.
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And David's men said to him, Now is the time when the Lord says to you, I will give up your hater into your hands to do with him whatever seems good to you. Then David, getting up, took the skirt of Saul's robe in his hand, cutting off the end of it without his knowledge.
5 Afterward David was stricken to the heart because he had cut off a corner of Saul's cloak.
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And later, David was full of regret for cutting off Saul's skirt.
6 He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to raise my hand against him; for he is the Lord's anointed."
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And David said to his men, Before the Lord, never let it be said that my hand was lifted up against my lord, the man of the Lord's selection, for the Lord's holy oil has been put on him.
7 So David scolded his men severely and did not permit them to attack Saul. Then Saul got up and left the cave, and went on his way.
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So with these words David kept his servants back, and did not let them make an attack on Saul. And Saul got up and went on his way.
8 Afterwards David also rose up and went out of the cave and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
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And after that David came out of the hollow rock, and crying after Saul said, My lord the king. And when Saul gave a look back, David went down on his face and gave him honour.
9 David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of those who say, "David seeks to do you harm'?
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And David said to Saul, Why do you give any attention to those who say that it is my desire to do you wrong?
10 This very day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you into my hand in the cave; and some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, "I will not raise my hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.'
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Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.
11 See, my father, see the corner of your cloak in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your cloak, and did not kill you, you may know for certain that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting me to take my life.
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And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.
12 May the Lord judge between me and you! May the Lord avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
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May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
13 As the ancient proverb says, "Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.
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There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.
14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea?
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After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.
15 May the Lord therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you. May he see to it, and plead my cause, and vindicate me against you."
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So let the Lord be judge, and give a decision between me and you, and see and give support to my cause, and keep me from falling into your hands.
16 When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice and wept.
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Now when David had said these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this your voice, David, my son? And Saul was overcome with weeping.
17 He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.
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And he said to David, You are right and I am wrong: for you have given me back good, but I have given you evil.
18 Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.
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And you have made clear to me how good you have been to me today: because, when the Lord gave me up into your hands, you did not put me to death.
19 For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.
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If a man comes across his hater, will he let him get away safe? so may you be rewarded by the Lord for what you have done for me today.
20 Now I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
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And now I am certain that you will be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be made strong under your authority.
21 Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father's house."
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So give me your oath by the Lord, that you will not put an end to my seed after me or let my name be cut off from my father's family.
22 So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
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And David gave Saul his oath. And Saul went back to his house; but David and his men went up to their safe place.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.