David Spares Saul 1 ULT And it happened, when Saul returned from after the Philistines, that they declared to him, saying,“Behold, David{ is} in the wilderness of En Gedi.” BSB BSB: After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.”
2 ULT And Saul took 3, 000 men, chosen from all of Israel. And he went to seek David and his men on the face of the cliffs 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 ULT And he came to some pens of sheep on the way, and a cave{ was} there. And Saul entered to cover his feet. Now David and his men were staying 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 ULT And the men of David said to him,“Behold, today{ is} what Yahweh said to you,‘Behold, I am giving your enemy into your hand, and you will do to him just as is good in your eyes.’” And David arose and cut off the edge of the robe that{ was} to Saul, in secrecy. 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 ULT And it happened after this that the heart of David struck him because he had cut off the edge that{ was} to Saul. BSB BSB: Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe.
6 ULT And he said to his men,“Profane to me from Yahweh if I have done this thing to my master, to the anointed one of Yahweh, to stretch out my hand against him. For he{ is} the anointed one of Yahweh.” 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 ULT And David dispersed his men with words and did not allow them to arise against Saul. And Saul arose from the cave and went in the 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 ULT And David arose after this and came out from the cave. And he called out after Saul, saying,“My master the king!” And Saul looked behind him, and David bowed, nostrils to the ground, and prostrated himself. 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 ULT And David said to Saul,“Why do you listen to the words of a man, saying,‘Behold, David is seeking your harm’? BSB BSB: and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10 ULT Behold, your eyes have seen this day that Yahweh gave you into my hand today in the cave. And one said to slay you, but it had compassion on you. And I said,‘I will not stretch out my hand against my master, for he{ is} the anointed one of Yahweh.’ 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 ULT And see, my father, even see the edge of your robe in my hand! For when I cut off the edge of your robe, I did not kill you. Know and see that no evil or transgression{ is} in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, but you are hunting 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 ULT May Yahweh judge between you and between me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand will not be against you. 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 ULT As the proverb of the ancient says,‘From the wicked comes out wickedness.’ But my hand will not be against you. BSB BSB: As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
14 ULT After whom does the king of Israel come out? After whom are you pursuing? After a dead dog! After one flea! BSB BSB: Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
15 ULT And may Yahweh be the judge, and may he judge between me and between you. And may he see and conduct my case, and may he judge me out of your 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 ULT And it happened, as David finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said,“{ Is} this your 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 ULT And he said to David,“You{ are} more righteous than I. For you did good to me, but I did evil to you. 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 ULT For you have declared today that you have done good with me, that Yahweh enclosed me in your hand, but you did 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 ULT Now if a man finds his enemy, will he send him on a good way? So may Yahweh repay you{ with} good for what you have done for 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 ULT And now, behold, I know that reigning, you will reign, and the kingdom of Israel will stand in your 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 ULT And now, swear to me by Yahweh, if you shall cut off my seed after me, and if you shall destroy my name from the house of my father!” 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 ULT And David swore to Saul. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up onto 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.