1 Samuel 24:6-17
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 24
6So he said to his men, 'Far be it from me because of the Lord that I would do this thing to my lord, the Lord’S anointed, to reach out with my hand against him, since he is the Lord’S anointed.' 7And David rebuked his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. And Saul got up, left the cave, and went on his way.
8Afterward, however, David got up and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, saying, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself.
9And David said to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David is seeking to harm you’?
10Behold, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord had handed you over to me today in the cave, and someone said to kill you, but I spared you; and I said, ‘I will not reach out with my hand against my lord, because he is the Lord’S anointed.’
11So, my father, look! Indeed, look at the edge of your robe in my hand! For by the fact that I cut off the edge of your robe but did not kill you, know and understand that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands, and I have not sinned against you, though you are lying in wait for my life, to take it.
12May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness’; but my hand shall not be against you.
14After whom has the king of Israel gone out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog, a single flea?
15May the Lord therefore be judge and decide between you and me; and may He see and plead my cause and save me from your hand.'
King James Version
Chapter 24
6And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. 7So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord'S anointed.
11Moreover, my father, see, yea, 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 thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
Christian Standard Bible
7With these words David persuaded his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.
8After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.
9David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of people who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’?
10You can see with your own eyes that the Lord handed you over to me today in the cave. Someone advised me to kill you, but I took pity on you and said: I won’t lift my hand against my lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed.
11Look, my father! Look at the corner of your robe in my hand, for I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. Recognize that I’ve committed no crime or rebellion. I haven’t sinned against you even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
12"May the Lord judge between me and you, and may the Lord take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.
13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness comes from wicked people.’ My hand will never be against you.
14Who has the king of Israel come after? What are you chasing after? A dead dog? A single flea?
15May the Lord be judge and decide between you and me. May he take notice and plead my case and deliver me from you."
New Living Translation
7So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way,
8David came out and shouted after him, 'My lord the king!' And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him.
9Then he shouted to Saul, 'Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you?
10This 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.’
11Look, 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.
12May 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.
13As that old proverb says, ‘From evil people come evil deeds.’ So you can be sure I will never harm you.
14Who 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?
15May 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!'
English Standard Version
Chapter 24
6He said to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord 's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord 's anointed." 7So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.
8Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.
9And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’?
10Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord 's anointed.’
11See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.
12May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you.
14After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!
15May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."
New International Version
Chapter 24
6He 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." 7With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
8Then 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.
9He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’?
10This 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.’
11See, 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.
12May 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.
13As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
New King James Version
Chapter 24
6And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.
8David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.
9And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?
10Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’
11Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.
12Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.
13As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand shall not be against you.
14After whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
15Therefore let the Lord be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”
