David Spares Saul 1 DBY And it came to pass when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. BSB BSB: After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2 DBY And Saul took three thousand men, chosen out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. BSB BSB: So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.
3 DBY And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave. BSB BSB: Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave.
4 DBY And David's men said to him, Behold the day of which Jehovah said to thee, Behold, I will give thine enemy into thy hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. And David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly. BSB BSB: So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 DBY And it came to pass afterwards that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. BSB BSB: Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
6 DBY And he said to his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Jehovah's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, for he is the anointed of Jehovah. BSB BSB: So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”
7 DBY And David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. BSB BSB: With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8 DBY David also arose afterwards, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king! And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance. BSB BSB: After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence
9 DBY And David said to Saul, Why dost thou listen to words of men, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt? BSB BSB: and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10 DBY Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had given thee this day into my hand in the cave; and they bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord, for he is the anointed of Jehovah. BSB BSB: Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’
11 DBY And see, my father, yes, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand. For in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou liest in wait for my life to take it. BSB BSB: See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12 DBY Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee. BSB BSB: May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
13 DBY As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked; but my hand shall not be upon thee. BSB BSB: As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14 DBY After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a single flea. BSB BSB: Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 DBY Jehovah therefore shall be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and do me justice in delivering me out of thy hand. BSB BSB: May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.”
David’s Oath to Saul 16 DBY And as soon as David had ended speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. BSB BSB: When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud
17 DBY And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. BSB BSB: and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
18 DBY And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou didst not kill me. BSB BSB: And you have declared this day how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
19 DBY For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that thou hast done to me this day. BSB BSB: When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
20 DBY And now behold, I know that thou shalt certainly be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand. BSB BSB: Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
21 DBY Swear now therefore to me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. BSB BSB: So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.”
22 DBY And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; and David and his men went up to the stronghold. BSB BSB: So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.